Effect of a cysteine protease inhibitor on Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke) fecundity, egg viability, parasite burden, and size in experimentally infected sheep
2007
Alcala-Canto, Yazmin | Ibarra-Velarde, Froylan | Sumano-Lopez, Hector | Gracia-Mora, Jesus | Alberti-Navarro, Aldo
Fasciola hepatica secretes proteolytic enzymes during liver invasion. The present study examined the effects of the cysteine protease inhibitor Ep-475 on sheep considering the following variables: serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, L-lactate dehydrogenase, and γ-glutamyltransferase, liver fluke fecundity, egg viability, parasite burden, and size. Twenty-four male sheep were randomly allocated in four groups of six animals each as follows: group A was infected with F. hepatica metacercariae and treated with 50 mg/kg of Ep-475, group B was infected and untreated, group C was uninfected and treated, and group D was uninfected and untreated. All animals were euthanized 10 weeks after the experimental infection. Serum activities of enzymes in infected animals were significantly lower in Ep-475-treated sheep than in untreated controls, although liver damage was produced. No significant reduction in total worm burden was observed between treated and untreated sheep. However, there was a significant difference on the average size, structure development, ova counts, and egg viability of liver flukes from these two groups. Results showed that Ep-475 reduces liver damage due to fasciolosis and induces an impairment of liver fluke growth and fecundity. These effects pinpoint liver fluke proteases as potential targets for pharmacological intervention.
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