STUDIES ON ANTHELMINTIC EFFECTS OF FLUBENDAZOLE AND MEBENDAZOLE ON THE RAT LUNGWORM ANGIOSTRONGYLUS CANTONENSIS IN MICE AND RATS

Flubendazole and mebendazole given orally at 10 mg/kg/day 5-7 days post-infection (total 30 mg/ kg) were found to eliminate 93-100% of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae in mice and rats. No significant difference was observed between the effects of the 2 drugs. The effectiveness of the drugs decreased with the increase in days post-infection on which medication was administered. It was found possible to treat A. can- tonensis adults in rats by administering flubendazole or mebendazole at 10 mg/kg/day for 10 consecutive days. The drugs exhibited better anthelmintic efficacy in a divided dosing regimen than in a single dosing regimen. The rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonen- sis is a nematode parasitic in the pulmonary ar- tery and heart of wild rats, the definitive hosts of this nematode. The larvae of the nematode