THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF RIFAMPICIN AGAINST TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS IN MICE

The need for new alternative treatment for trichinosis is being motivated by the growing resistance and low bioavailability of current therapies. In this study, experimental mice were used to assess the therapeutic effects of rifampicin alone or in combination with albendazole against Trichinella spiralis . One hundred male mice were classified into five groups of 20 mice each, G1: negative or normal control (non-infected untreated), G2: positive control (infected untreated), G3: drug control (infected and albendazole treated), G4: infected and rifampicin treated, and G5: infected and treated by albendazole and rifampicin combination. Half of the mice were sacrificed on the 10 th day post infection (dpi) for the intestinal phase and the other half were sacrificed on the 40 th dpi for the muscular phase. The treatment effectiveness was evaluated by para-sitological, histological, and biochemical tests in contrast with positive control. Mice given albendazole and rifampicin combination gave a highly significant decrease in T. spiralis intestinal adult count, larval count in muscle and lowered liver activity enzymes. This was documented by the histopathology of liver, muscles and intestines.