Anticestodal drugs

Question 1

Bunamidine

Answer 1

• Breaks the tegument (outer skin) of the parasite
• Act on Cestodes especially Echinococcus of dog and cat
• Diarrhea and vomition. Sudden death in dogs was due to drug effect on the heart causing myocardial sensitization to catecholamines .
  (Animals must be fasted before administration of bunamidine.)

Vermicide.

Question 2

Niclosamide (Mansonil)

cestode

Answer 2

• Inhibiting mitochondrial phosphorylation process in the parasite
• Act on Cestodes of dog and cat and intestinal flukes in ruminants.
• It is essential to give a purgative two hours after administration before the viable ova are released from the segments by digestion
  (is poorly absorbed from the gut, but very rapidly excreted. It has a 5 to 7
  folds safety margin.)

Vermicide.

Question 3

Praziquental (given orally or parenterally (S/C)

Answer 3

1 - It acts on the worm by interfering with the ionic balance of the muscle cells causing rapid muscular contraction.
2- It breaks tegument (outer skin) of the parasite
* Act on Lung Cestodes and their larvae - intestinal flukes – Schistosoma in animals

(it is rapidly absorbed and
metabolized. It is a very safe drug and its safety margin reaches 1:40 of the
recommended dose.)

Vermicide.

Question 4

Epsiprantel (given orally only)

Answer 4

1 - It acts on the worm by interfering with the ionic balance of the muscle cells causing rapid muscular contraction.
2- It breaks tegument (outer skin) of the parasite
* Act on Schistosoma in human
( It is safer than praziquantel as its safety margin is 1 : 90, but it is less active against schistosomes.)

Question 5

Dichlorophen

cestode

Answer 5

• Inhibiting mitochondrial phosphorylation process in the parasite
• Act on Taenia and Dipylidium in dogs
• The killed worms are disintegrated in the gut before expelling with the feces.
  (but ineffective against Echinococcus .)

Taenicide.

Question 6

Nitroscanate

Answer 6

• Inhibiting mitochondrial phosphorylation process in the parasite (as Neclosamide)
• Not act on cats but just dogs
• Vomiting is a common side effect in dogs.
  (its safety margin is 1 : 40)

taenicide