EJMS

Abstract

Hymenolepis nana (H.nana) is the smallest, most common human tapeworm infection worldwide. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of a synthetic drug, praziquantel, and another agent of plant origin, Rosmarinus officinalis oil, on experimentally H.nana-infected mice. Animals (130 laboratory-bred male Swiss albino mice) were classified into two groups, Group A for studying the efficacy of both drugs on the immature Hymenolepiasis, Group B for studying the efficacy of both drugs on mature Hymenolepiasis; each group was then divided in to five subgroups. Histopathological changes of the intestinal mucosa, as well as the number and size of cysticercoids, were used to evaluate the efficacy of tested drugs on the immature Hymenolepiasis. The total worm burden and the total egg output were used to evaluate the efficacy of tested drugs on the mature Hymenolepiasis. Results showed that the combined PZQ and Rosmarinus officinalis oil treated group demonstrated the best results regarding the reduction in the mean cysticercoids number and diameter (100%) as well as the restoration of the normal architecture of intestinal villi with undetectable cysticercoids in immature Hymenolepiasis, reduction in the total worm burden (TWB) and the total egg output (TEO) in mature Hymenolepiasis. Praziquantel effectively eradicated adult worms and rapidly improved pathological changes. The effect of Rosmarinus officinalis oil on TWB and TEO was duration and dose dependent. In conclusion Rosmarinus officinalis can be used as a food supplementation in pediatric infection to prevent internal and external autoinfection of hymenolepiasis and would be beneficial for at-risk patients who have a hypersensitivity to praziquantel or any other contraindication.