ANTICESTODAL ACTIVITY OF ARTESUNATE AGAINST Raillietina tetragona

K. LALCHHANDAMA¹*, LALLAWMCHHUNGA², C. LALMUANSANGI³, H. LALRINNGHETA⁴, P.B. LALTHANPUII⁵, C. VANLALPARMAWII⁶, M.G.C.C. ZAIROHLUPUII^7
1Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl - 796 001, Mizoram, India.
²Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl - 796 001, Mizoram, India.
³Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl - 796 001, Mizoram, India.
⁴Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl - 796 001, Mizoram, India.
⁵Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl - 796 001, Mizoram, India.
⁶Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl - 796 001, Mizoram, India.
⁷Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl - 796 001, Mizoram, India.
* Corresponding Author : chhandama@gmail.com

Received : 08-04-2015     Accepted : 02-05-2015     Published : 18-06-2015
Volume : 7     Issue : 1       Pages : 152 - 155
Int J Parasitol Res 7.1 (2015):152-155

Keywords : Artesunate, anthelmintic, cestode, Raillietina tetragona
Academic Editor : Prof. Soam Prakash, P. N. Panigrahi
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : The study was in part supported by the Star College Scheme of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to Pachhunga University College (No. 102/IFD/SAN/5218/2011-12 of 22/3/2012). The authors are grateful to the faculty and staff of Department of
Author Contribution : The authors have declared that they have no competing interest.

Pervasive drug resistance in malarial and helminth parasites is the mainstay in veterinary and clinical medicines. These parasites remain the leading cause of death and morbidity, with associated societal and economic incapacity. Artesunate has become a prescription drug in the treatment of severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum and schistosomiasis. It has been profusely demonstrated to be highly effective against human virus, trematodes, and various cancer cells. However, nothing is known about its anthelmintic activity on parasitic cestodes. Thus, avian cestodes Raillietina tetragona were collected from fowls and treated with incremental doses of artesunate, ranging from 0.7, 1.5, 3, 6 to 12 mg/ml. The cestodes were highly susceptible to the various doses of the drug, and the anthelmintic activity was dose- and time-dependent. Microscopic examination on the tegument of the treated cestodes showed extensive alteration, indicated by surface erosion and obliteration of the attachment organs, including suckers and rostellum. The result advocates that artesunate is a good candidate in the management of cestode infections.