Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2004 Sep;98(6):595-614.
The safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of levamisole alone, levamisole plus ivermectin, and levamisole plus albendazole, and their efficacy against Onchocerca volvulus.

Awadzi K, Edwards G, Opoku NO, Ardrey AE, Favager S, Addy ET, Attah SK, Yamuah LK, Quartey BT.

Onchocerciasis Chemotherapy Research Centre (OCRC), Hohoe Hospital, P. O. Box 144, Hohoe, Ghana. awadzhana.com

Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, in which levamisole (2.5 mg/kg) was given alone or co-administered with ivermectin (200 microg/kg) or albendazole (400 mg), were conducted. In Trial 1, safety and drug-drug interaction were explored in 42 healthy male volunteers. During Trial 2, the safety of the same treatment regimens and their efficacy against the adult worms and microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus were investigated in 66 infected subjects of both sexes. Safety was determined from the results of detailed clinical and laboratory examinations before treatment, during hospitalization and on day 30. The pharmacokinetic parameters for levamisole alone and the combinations were determined in Trial 1 and then compared with historical data for ivermectin and albendazole, given as single agents, to determine if drug-drug interaction had occurred. The level of efficacy against the adult worms was determined by the examination of histology sections of nodules excised 6 months posttreatment and from the changes seen in the levels of microfilaridermia within a year of treatment. Microfilaricidal efficacy was estimated from the reductions in the levels of microfilaridermia between day 0 (1 day pre-treatment) and day 30. Although the regimens were generally well tolerated, there were unexpected adverse effects in both healthy volunteers and infected subjects. Clinically significant drug-drug interactions resulted in an increase in the bio-availability of ivermectin but a reduction in that of albendazole when these drugs were co-administered with levamisole. Leva




East Mediterr Health J. 2001 Jul-Sep;7(4-5):787-90.
Efficacy of albendazole in giardiasis.

Baqai R, Zuberi SJ, Qureshi H, Ahmed W, Hafiz S.

Pakistan Medical Research Council Research Centre, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan.

Albendazole and metronidazole were compared in 68 patients diagnosed positive for giardiasis. Albendazole 1200 mg, one dose was given to 24 patients, albendazole 400 mg twice a day for 3 days was given to 23 patients, and metronidazole 400 mg 3 times a day for 5 days to 21 patients. Response to therapy was monitored by clinical examination and analysis of fresh faecal samples on days 0, 3, 7 and 10. Response to the single dose of albendazole was 55%, to the divided dose of albendazole 70%, and to metronidazole 84%. The results show that albendazole, originally recommended for helminthic infection, can also be used in patients with mixed protozoal infection or for infections resistant to metronidazole.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15332780&dopt=Abstract albendazole Albenza




J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2004 Sep 3;35(5):1191-202.
Quantitative determination of albendazole metabolites in sheep spermatozoa and seminal plasma by liquid chromatographic analysis with fluorescence detection.

Batzias GC, Theodosiadou E, Delis GA.

Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece. batziaet.auth.gr

A new analytical method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of albendazole metabolites in sheep spermatozoa and seminal plasma at levels down to 46.5 ng/mL for albendazole sulphoxide (ABZ-SO), 7.5 ng/mL for albendazole sulphone (ABZ-SO2) and 12 ng/mL for albendazole 2-aminosulphone (ABZ-SO2NH2) has been developed. Analytes were extracted from alkalinized samples with ethyl acetate. Separation was carried out on a C18 column in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA) hydrogen sulphate and octanesulphonate sodium (OCT), as ion-pair agents. Fluorometric detection was performed with excitation and emission wavelengths set at 290 and 320 nm, respectively. Accuracy data showed overall recoveries (+/-S.E.M.) of 83.1+/-1.2% for ABZ-SO, 98.8+/-0.6% for ABZ-SO2 and 85.3+/-0.7% for ABZ-SO2NH2, in spermatozoa. Respective values in seminal plasma were 88.0+/-0.9%, 97.7+/-0.5% and 93.2+/-1.7%. Precision data suggested coefficient of variation (CV%) values lower than 5.9% for spermatozoa and 3.8% for seminal plasma. The method was successfully applied for the determination of the three albendazole metabolites in semen samples collected from rams that had been orally administered albendazole.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15336364&dopt=Abstract albendazole Albenza [PubMed - in process]




Vet Res Commun. 2004 Jul;28(5):375-85.
Implications of fungicidal effects of benzimidazole compounds on Duddingtonia flagrans in integrated nematode parasite management in livestock.

Sanyal PK, Chauhan JB, Mukhopadhyaya PN.

Biotechnology Laboratory, National Dairy Development Board, Anand, Gujarat, India. sanyalpndiatimes.com

An in vitro trial with carbendazim fungicide on the growth profile of the predatory fungus Duddingtonia flagrans was undertaken and in vivo trials in sheep and buffaloes, fed on chlamydospores of D. flagrans and administered albendazole anthelmintic, were conducted. Although no growth inhibition was detected at a carbendazim concentration of 0.05 ppm, growth inhibition was recorded of 50% and above at concentrations of 0.25 and 1.00 ppm (p < 0.001) and of around 90% at concentrations of 2.00 to 5.00 ppm (p <0.0001). Scanty recovery of the fungus was made from faecal culture 48 h following a single dose of albendazole both in sheep and buffaloes. However, profuse fungal recovery was made from 96 h post dosing onwards. When the drug was used as an intraruminal slow-release capsule, no faecal fungal recovery could be made from day 3 after administration of the capsule, when the albendazole sulphoxide concentration was around 1.0 microg/ml. However, profuse and scanty fungal recovery could be made on days 1 and 2, respectively, after administration of the capsule, when the plasma albendazole sulphoxide concentration was around 0.4 and 0.9 microg/ml, respectively. The implications for use of a combination of anthelmintics and biological control in sustainable parasite control programmes are discussed.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15379432&dopt=Abstract albendazole Albenza [PubMed - in process]




Salud Publica Mex. 2004 Jul-Aug;46(4):333-40.
[Nitazoxanide vs albendazole against intestinal parasites in a single dose and for three days]

[Article in Spanish]

Belkind-Valdovinos U, Belkind-Gerson J, Sanchez-Francia D, Espinoza-Ruiz MM, Lazcano-Ponce E.

Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, DF, Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of the usual dose of nitazoxanide administered for three days and as a single dose for massive eradication of intestinal parasites in the pediatric population, compared with single-dose albendazole. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in three rural communities in central Mexico City between 2001 and 2003 to assess three possible therapy regimes in a study population of 786 children 5 to 11 years of age, 92 of whom had a positive parasitology test result (15.1%). Group 1 included 27 patients treated with 400 mg given as a single dose of albendazole; group 2 included 34 patients whose therapy consisted of a 15 mg/kg/day dose for three consecutive days; patients in group 3 (n=31) were administered a single 1.2 g dose of nitazoxanide. Differences in proportions were assessed using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in the effectiveness of the three treatment regimes: 80.5% with albendazole, compared with the two nitazoxanide alternatives (67.6% and 71%, respectively.A higher prevalence of side effects was observed with nitazoxanide in the three-day regimen (26.5%) and as a single dose (32.2%), compared with a single dose of albendazole (7.4%). CONCLUSIONS: According to the evidence on effectiveness and side effects, the use of nitazoxanide is not justified as a massive prophylactic medication for intestinal parasitosis control alternative in endemic areas. In countries with a high prevalence of intestinal parasitosis primary prevention measures should be the most important strategy, together with public sanitation, drinking water and sewage system




N Engl J Med. 1999 Mar 11;340(10):773-9.
The cost effectiveness of strategies for the treatment of intestinal parasites in immigrants.

Muennig P, Pallin D, Sell RL, Chan MS.

Refugee Health Program, New York City Department of Health, Columbia University School of Public Health, New York 10013, USA.

BACKGROUND: Currently, more than 600,000 immigrants enter the United States each year from countries where intestinal parasites are endemic. At entry persons with parasitic infections may be asymptomatic, and stool examinations are not a sensitive method of screening for parasitosis. Albendazole is a new, broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug, which was approved recently by the Food and Drug Administration. International trials have shown albendazole to be safe and effective in eradicating many parasites. In the United States there is now disagreement about whether to screen all immigrants for parasites, treat all immigrants presumptively, or do nothing unless they have symptoms. METHODS: We compared the costs and benefits of no preventive intervention (watchful waiting) with those of universal screening or presumptive treatment with 400 mg of albendazole per day for five days. Those at risk were defined as immigrants to the United States from Asia, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Cost effectiveness was expressed both in terms of the cost of treatment per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted (one DALY is defined as the loss of one year of healthy life to disease) and in terms of the cost per hospitalization averted. RESULTS: As compared with watchful waiting, presumptive treatment of all immigrants at risk for parasitosis would avert at least 870 DALYs, prevent at least 33 deaths and 374 hospitalizations, and save at least $4.2 million per year. As compared with watchful waiting, screening would cost $159,236 per DALY averted. CONCLUSIONS: Presumptive administration of albendazole to all immigrants at risk for parasitosis would save liv




J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl. 1999 Feb 19;723(1-2):265-71.
Quantitative determination of albendazole and its main metabolites in plasma.

Garcia JJ, Bolas-Fernandez F, Torrado JJ.

Dpto. Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.

Three different and complementary chromatographic methods are described for quantitative determination of albendazole (ABZ) and its two main metabolites: albendazole sulphoxide (SOABZ) and albendazole sulphone (SO2ABZ). ABZ, SOABZ and SO2ABZ can be quantified by two RP-HPLC methods with an ODS2 column and two different mobile phases. One of methanol-water (60:40) for ABZ and a second one of phosphoric acid in water-acetonitrile (80:20) for SOABZ and SO2ABZ. SOABZ bears an asymmetric sulphur centre. Quantitative assay of (+) SOABZ and (-) SOABZ can be performed by HPLC. A chiral AGP column and a mobile phase of sodium phosphate buffer (8 mM, pH 7.0) containing different amounts of 2-propanol between 0 to 2% were used. Pharmacokinetic characteristics of ABZ following oral administration of a liquid formulation of ABZ (12 mg/kg) in mice has been studied with these three complementary HPLC methods and the results are reported.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10080654&dopt=Abstract albendazole Albenza