Electron and Video-Light Microscopy Analysis of the in Vitro Effects of Pyrantel Pamoate on Giardia lamblia

• Published in: Experimental parasitology Vol. 97; no. 1; pp. 9 - 14
• Main Authors: Campanati, Loraine, Gadelha, Ana Paula Rocha, Monteiro-Leal, Luiz Henrique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01-01-2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiparasitic agents; Antiprotozoal Agents - administration & dosage; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Culture Media; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; electron microscopy; Flagella - drug effects; Flagella - physiology; Flagella - ultrastructure; Giardia lamblia; Giardia lamblia - drug effects; Giardia lamblia - physiology; Giardia lamblia - ultrastructure; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Electron; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Video; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; protozoa; pyrantel pamoate; Pyrantel Pamoate - administration & dosage; Pyrantel Pamoate - pharmacology; pyrantel pumoate; Solvents - pharmacology; video microscopy; electron microscopy; Giardia lamblia; pyrantel pamoate; video microscopy; protozoa; Protozoa; Host parasite relation; Protozoal disease; Anthelmintic; Pyrantel; Parasite; Diplomonadida; Parasitosis; In vitro; Biological activity; Video recording; Infection; Optical microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy; Treatment; Giardiasis; Parasiticid
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1006/expr.2000.4578

Campanati, L., Gadelha, A. P. R., and Monteiro-Leal, L. H. 2001. Electron and video-light microscopy analysis of the in vitro effects of pyrantel pamoate on Giardia lamblia. Experimental Parasitology97, 9–14. Giardia infection is predominant in the small intestine of vertebrates, where the trophozoites attach to epithelial cells and adversely affect the microvilli and other epithelial cell structures. Giardiasis, the disease caused by this protozoan, is very common in developing countries and mainly affects children. Drugs currently used to treat Giardia infection, such as some benzimidazole derivatives, were originally designed to treat helminthic infections. Many of the drugs are known to cause severe side effects and disturbances to the patient. Using transmission electron microscopy and video-light microscopy, we studied the effects of pyrantel pamoate, a drug commonly used in the treatment of helminthic infections in horses and ruminants, on Giardia lamblia trophozoites. Pyrantel pamoate was administered to Giardia cells in four different concentrations. Using video-light microscopy, we observed the decrease in flagella beating frequency and severe changes in the lateral flange and in the general aspect of the cell. Using transmission electron microscopy, we observed changes in the cytoplasm and peripheral vesicles. The flagella and adhesive disk structure were not affected. Apparently, the effects of pyrantel pamoate are irreversible.