1. DR.ABDUL LATIF MAHESAR Department of Medical Pharmacology KSU
ANTHELMINTIC DRUGS
DR.ABDUL LATIF MAHESAR
Department of Medical Pharmacology
KSU

2. INTRODUCTION
Humans are the primary hosts for the most of helminthic infections.
Most worms produce in human sexually by producing eggs and larvae
These pass out of body and infect the secondary host
Imature forms invade humans via skin or GIT and mature to adult worms with characterstic tissue distribution.

3. Types (clinical) 1. Worms live in hosts alimentary canal.
2. Worms or larvae live in other tissues of host
body like muscles , viscera , menninges ,
lungs, subcutaneous tissues.

4. INTESTINAL WORMS CON’D
A) INTESTINAL ROUND WORMS (NEMATODES)
Ascaris lmubricods (common round worm)
Enterobius vermicularis (pin worm)
Trichuris trichuria ( whip worm)
Strongyloids stercoralis ( thread worm)
Ankylostoma dudenale (hook worm)

5. Ascaris lumbricoids ( common round worm)

6. Hookworm

7. Pinworm male ,female

8. whipworm

9. Tricuris tricura(whip worm)

10. 1. Alimentary canal(intestinal tape worms)
B) TAPE WORMS (CESTODES)
Taenia saginata(Beaf) ,
Taenia solium(Pork),Hymenolepis nana(Dwarf) ,diphylobothrium latum(Fish)
Humans become infected by eating raw or under cooked meat containing larvae of infected cattle or pig which has encysted in the animal muscle tissue.

11. Cestodes con’d
In some conditions this larvae may develop in humans resulting cysticercosis (i.e. larvae gets encysted in the muscle and viscera or more seriously in the brain or eye.)
In case of H.nana both adult worm and larvae can be present in the same host.
In case of D.latum infections occurs by eating raw or undercooked fish

12. Tapeworm

13. cysticercosis

14. 2. TISSUE WORMS A.TREMATODES(Schisotomes)OR FLUKES(leaf like)
Schistosoma haematobium
Schistosoma Japonicum
Schistosoma mansoni
(These cause SCHISTASOMIASIS) also called (BILHARZIA) means disease of blood vessels.
Adult worms of both sex live and mate in veins or venules of the gut wall or the bladder, eggs pass into the bladder or gut and produce inflammation of these organs , resulting in haematuria or loss of blood in feces.

15. Tremtodes (flukes) con’d
Eggs hatch in water and develop in to miracidia(1st stage of larva of trematode and further develop in the body of snail), which enter to 2ndry host a particular species of snail ,where it develops to free swimming cercarae (final free-swimming stage of a trematode),These infect humans by penetrating to skin

16. Paragonimus westermani (lung fluke)
disease is caused by eating raw crab or fish , larvae move from intestine to blood and settle in lungs
Clonorchis sinensis(liver fluke)
disease is caused by eating raw fish and worm settle in the biliary tract

17. Tissue worms cont’d Trichnella spiralis.
B. TISSUE ROUND WORMS
Trichnella spiralis.
Dracunulus medinensis (guinea worm)larva migrate from intestine to tissue of leg or foot and protrude out by making ulcer

18. FILARIAE includes Wuchereria bancrofti Loa loa Onchocerera volvulus
Brugia malayi

19. Trichinela spiralis

22. filariasis

23. Wuchereria or Brugia obstructs lymphatic vessels producing elephantiasis

24. Filariae: Wucheria bancrofti ,loa loa , onchocera volvulus and Brugia malayi
Adult filariae live in the lymphatics,and cause lymphadenitis and swelling of limb. connective tissue or mesentery of host and produce live embryos or microfilariae, which goes to blood stream.
They are ingested by mosquitoes or similar insects, they develop to larvae in 2ndry host and pass to mouth parts of insect and
re-injected to humans

25. C. Hydatid tape worm Echinococcus species .
These are cestodes ,primary in canines (dogs) and sheep as intermediate host.
humans can act intermediate host in which larvae develop to hydatid cyst with in tissue.

26. Hydateid cyct

27. Helminths commonly infecting man
Nematodes( round worm)
Tissue worms wuchereria bancrofti Filariasis
Brugia malayi Filariasis
Loa loa loiasis
Onchocerca River blindness
Dracunculus medinensis Dracunculiaiss
Intestinal human nematodes Enterobius vermicularis Threadworm
Ascaris lumbricoides Roundworm
Trichuris trichiura Whipworm
Nector americanus Hookworm
Ancylostoma duodenale Hookworm
Strongyloides stercoralis Strongyloidosis
Trematodes(flukes)
Blood flukes Schistosoma species Schistosomiasis
Lung flukes Paragonimus speies Paragonimiasis
Intestinal / hepatic flukes Fasciolopsis buski
Fasciola hepatica
Clonorchis sinensis

28. Helminths commonly infecting man cont’d
Cestodes(tapeworms)
Intestinal adult worms Taenia saginata Beef tapeworm
Taenia solium Porktaperworm
Diphyllobothrium latum Fishetapeworm
Hymenolepis nana Dwarftapeworm
Larval tissue cysts Taenia solium cysticercosis
Echinococcus granulosus Hydatid disease
Echinococcus multilocularis Hydatid disease
Spirometra mansoni Sparganosis

29. Diseases caused by filarial worms
Organism adult worm Microfilariae C.signs
W. bancrofti Lymphatics Blood Fever
lymphangitis
Elephantiasis
B.Malayi lymphatics Blood Fever
Loa loa Subcutaneous Blood Urticaria
Onchocerca Subcutaneous skin,eye subcut nodules
Eye disease
Mansonella perstans Retroperitoneal Blood Allergic eosinophilia

30. Dircrocoelium dendriticum

31. Fasiola hepatica

32. ANTHELMINTIC DRUGS BENZIMIDAZOLES It is a broad spectrum
1.ALBENDAZOLE:
It is a broad spectrum
It is a drug of choice (primary therapeutic application) for treatment of hydatid disease and cystecercosis, it is also used for the treatment of (intestinal nematodes) ascariasis ,tricurasis and strongyloidiasis , pinworm, hookworm

33. Albendazole con;d
Mechanism of action: It inhibits microtubule synthesis in nematodes(intestinal round worms) that irreversibly impairs glucose uptake, intestinal parasites are immobilized and die slowly.
It is larvicidal in hydatid ,cysticercosis , ascariasis and hook worm infection.
Also ovicidal in ascariasis , ancyclostomiasis(hookworm) , tricurasis

34. Pharmacokinetics (Albendazole)
It is benzimidazole carbamate
it is adminstered orally , and absorbed erratically (unpredictable) , absorption can be increased with fatty meal
It is metabolized in the liver rapidly to active metabolite albendazole sulphoxide

35. Pharmacokinetics (Albendazole)
It has a plasma half life of 8-12 hours
Sulphoxide is mostly protein bound , distributes well to tissues and enters bile, csf, hydated cyst
Metabolites are excreted in urine

36. Clinical uses (albendazole)
used on empty stomach when used against intraluminal parasites but with fatty meal when against tissue parasites.
In ascariasis ,tricurasis ,hookworm, pin worm infection : children under 2 years 400 mg orally as a single dose repeated for 2-3 days in heavy ascariasis ,repeated after 2-3 wks for pin worm
2. Hydated diseases:
drug of choice ,400 mg twice with meals for 1 month or longer.

37. Albendazole con’d
Neurocysticercosis: It is controversial as it has not proved superior to corticosteroid alone.
It is used along with cotricosteroid to decrease the inflammation caused by dying organism and it also reduces the duration of course i.e. 400 mg twice daily for 21 days
4. Other infections: Drug of choice in cutaneous and visceral larvea migrans , intestinal cappillariasis and others

38. Albendazole con’d Adverse effects:
In short term: use no significant adverse effects.
In long term use : as used in hydatid cyst and cysticercosis, abdominal distress, headache ,fever , fatigue, alopecia , increased liver enzymes , pancytopenia. Blood counts and LFT should be followed.
Not given during pregnancy and in hypersensitive people.

39. MEBENDAZOLE(Vermox) it is a synthetic benzimidazole
it has wider spectrum and is more safer than albendazole
Mechanism of action:
It inhibits microtubule synthesis in nematodes that irreversibly impairs glucose uptake.Intestinal parasites are immobilized and die slowy.
It kills hook worm, pin worm , ascariasis and trichuris eggs.

40. Mebendazole con’t
Pharmacokinetics:
less than 10% of orally administered drug is absorbed
Absorption increases with fatty meal.
Absorbed drug is 90 % protein bound
It is converted to inactive metabolites rapidly in liver.
It has half life of 2-6 hours
It is primarily excreted in urine.

41. Mebendazole con’t Clinical uses:
It is taken orally before or after meal tablets should be chewed before swallowing.
Pinworm infection: 100 mg as a single dose, to be repeated after 2-3 weeks.
Ascaris lumricoides , trichuris trichura , hookworm and trichstrongtlus; 100 mg /twice daily for 3 days to repeated in 2-3 weeks
in adults and children over 2 years cure rate is % except hook worm but there occurs marked reduction

42. Mebendazole con’d
Intestinal cappilliaris: 400 mg /day in divided doses for 21 day or more.
Trichinosis :it has limited efficacy against adult worm mg for 3 days ,then mg for 10 days with fatty meal and co-administration with corticosteroids in sever infection

43. Mebendazole con’d
Adverse effects and precautions:
No adverse effects in short term therapy.Mild GI disturbance.
With high dose Hypersensitivity reactions,agranulocytosis , alopecia ,elevation of liver enzymes .
used with caution under 2ys of age may cause convulsion in this group.
enzyme inducers and inhibitors affect plasma level of the drug.
hepatic parenchymal disease

44. Thiabendazole it is benzimidazole
it is chelating agent and form stable complexes with metals including iron, but does not bind with calcium.
it is rapidly absorbed
it has half life of 1.2 hrs
It is completely metabolized in liver and 90% is excreted in urine
it can also get absorbed through skin

45. Thiabendazole con’d:
mechanism of action: similar to other benzimidazoles.It is ovicidal for some paracites
clinical uses:
should be given after meals .and tablets should be chewed
for strongyloides(thread worms) infections: 25 mg /kg ( not more than 1.5 grams) twice daily for 2 days ,can be repeated after 2 week. In hyper infection syndrome drug is continued twice daily for 5-7 days.
for cutaneous larval migrans thiabendazole cream is applied topically or drug can be given orally for 2 days.

46. Thiabendazole con’d adverse reactions and contraindications:
It is more toxic than other benzamidazoles
GI disturbances
Pruritus ,headache, drowsiness , psychoneurotic symptoms.
Irreversible live failure.
Fatal Steven –Johnson syndrome(inflammation of skin)
Not used in children below 15 kg weight. pregnancy, hepatic and renal diseases.

47. PYRANTEL PAMOATE It is a broad specturm anthelmintic
but it is not effective against tricuriasis(whip worms), and trichostrongylus orientalis infections. Oxalate pamoate is effective
Pharmacokinetics:
It is poorly absorbed orally ,
Half of the drug is excreted unchanged in the feces.
Mechanism of action:
It is a depolrazing neuromuscular blocking agent that causes release of acetylcholine and inhibition of cholinestrase leads to paralizes of worms.

48. Pyrantel pamoate con’d
Efficacy and clinical uses:
it is very effective against luminal organisms.
It is not effective against migratory stages in the tissues or against ova
Entrobius vermicularis (pin worm) 11 mg /kg as a single dose to be repeated in 2 wks.
Ascariasis lumbricoids (common round worm).single dose to be repeated after 2wks
Ankylostoma dudenale (hook worm) single dose for light infection but a 3 days course is necessary for heavy infection.especially N amerianus.

49. Pyrental pamoate con’d
Adverse Effects .
Infrequent mild transient GI disturbance
drowsiness , headache ,insomnia.
Rash ,fever
Contraindciations
Should not be used in liver diseases.
Pregnancy
and child under 2 years of age

50. PIPERAZINE Only recommended for the treatment of ascariasis.
it is readily absorbed orally and excreted in urine
Mechanism of action:
it causes paralysis of ascaris by blocking acetylcholine at myoneural junction ,expelling the live worm by normal peristalsis.
Not recommended for other helminth infections

51. Piperazine con’d pharmacokinetics :
it is readily absorbed orally and excreted unchanged in urine.
75 mg /kg/day for 2 days once daily
treatment is continued for 3-4 days or repeated after one week in case of heavy infections.

52. Piperazine con’d Adverse effects: GI disturbance
Neurotoxicity ,allergic reactions serum sickness like syndrome
Contraindications
Epilepsy
Impaired liver or kidney functions
pregnancy
Malnutrition

53. Ascariasis Hookworm enterobius tricuris strongloides
Drugs used for treating human intestinal nematodes (single dose unless otherwise stated
Ascariasis Hookworm enterobius tricuris strongloides
Piperazzine
Pyrantal pamoate
Albendazole
Mebendazole
Thiabendazole n/a n/a n/a n/a
Ivermectin n/a n/a n/a n/a

54. NICLOSAMIDE
It is a useful drug for treatment of tape worm (cestodes)infestation
Mechanism of action:
Adult worm is rapidly killed by inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation or stimulation of ATPase activity.
Pharmacokinetics:
It is poorly absorbed from gut
Neither drug nor its metabolites are found in blood or urine

55. Niclosamide con’d Clinical uses:
T.Saginata( Beef tape worm),T.solium( pork tape worm), Diphyllobothrium latum (fish tape worm)
2 gram of single dose is given in the morning on the empty stomach.
not effective against cysticercosis or hydatic disease.
Hymenolepis nana: It is effective against adult parasite

56. Niclosamide con’d Adverse effects:
Mild ,infrequent and transitory GI disturbance
Alcohol consumption should be avoided
not indicated in children under 2 years of age.

57. DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE
Is a drug of choice for the treatment of filariasis ,loiasis and tropical eosinophillia.
Pharmacokinetics:
It is synthetic peprazine derivative
Rapidly absorbed from gut
It has a half life of 2-3 hours which increases in alkaline urine to 10 hours.
It is excreted in urine unchanged.
dosage is reduced in urinary alkalosis and renal impairment.

58. DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE con’d
Mechanism of action:
It immobilizes microfilariae and alters its surface structure ,making them susceptible to destruction by host defense mechanis
It is not teratogenic

59. DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE con’d
It is a drug of choice for the treatment of W.bancrofti, B.malayi,B.timori, loa loa
Microfiliariae are rapidly killed .adult worms are killed slowly requiring several course of treatment
It is highly effective against L.loa. for these infections the dose is 2mg/kg three times a day for 2-3 weeks.
for W.bancrofti infections to reduce the incidence of allergic reactions to dying microfilariae a single dose is administered on the first day , two doses on the second day and three doses on the 3rd day.

60. DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE con’d
For loa ( with risk of encephalopathy) or B.malayi infections ,individual
doses should start at 1 mg /kg once on the first day and gradually increased over 5-6 days
Anti histamines and corticosteroids are given in allergic manifestations.
Complete Cure may be require several courses of treatment over 1-2 years.
The drug may be used in prohylaxis
300 mg weekly or 300 mg on 3 successive day each month for loiasis.
50 mg monthly for bancrofitan and malayan filariasis
Tropical eosinophilia 2 mg /kg tree time daily for 7 days

61. DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE con’d
Reactions induced by Dying parasites:
Fever , mailase, papular rash, headache, GI disturbance,cough, chest,muscle,joint pain
Leucocytosis
Retinal haemorrhage
Encephalopathy
lymphangitis and lymphadenopathy.

62. DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE con’d
contraindications and precautions
Hypertension
Renal disease
Patient suspected of malaria
patient with lymphangitis

63. IVERMECTIN
It is drug of choice for treatment of filaria and onchoceriais,elephantiasis
it is a macrocyclic lactone
It is used orally and is rapidly absorbed, posses wide volume of distribution.
It has a half life of 16 hrs
It is exclusively excreted in urine

64. IVERMECTIN con’d Mechanism of action:64
it intensifies GABA –mediated transmission of singals in peripheral neverse
In onchoceriasis it is microfilaricidal
It does not kill adult worm

65. IVERMECTIN con’d Clinical uses:
Onchoceriasis: a single dose of 150 mg/kg with water on empty stomach,repeated after every 3 months for one year,after this it is repeated yearly untill adult worm dies which may take a year or more

66. IVERMECTIN con’d
Strongyloidiasis: 200mg for 2 days in immunosuppresed patient ,repeated treatment is often needed.
Bancrofti filaricidal: as it is mirofilaricidal
It is also used for scabies and cutaneous larva migrains.

67. IVERMECTIN con’d Adverse effects: Fatigue ,dizziness, GI disturbance
In onchoceriasis:
Mazotti reaction i.e. fever, headache, dizziness, somonlence, weekness, rash ,diarrhea, arthralagia, hypotension, lymphadenitis, peripheral edema due to killing of microfiliariae, for this steroids may be necessary for several days
Swelling and abscess at site of adult worm
Punctuate corneal opacities.

68. IVERMECTIN con’d Contraindication: other drugs that enhance GABA
e.g Barbiturates, bnezodiazepines, valproaic acid.
pregnancy
Imparied blood brain barrier
Children under 5 years of age.

69. BITHIONOL
it is drug of choice for the treatment of fasioliasis ( sheep liver fluke)
It is also alternative drug for pulmonary paragonimiasis
Pharmacokinetics:
It is orally administered and excreted in urine.

70. BITHIONOL Clinical uses:
30-50 mg /kg in 2-3 divided doses administered orally after meals on alternate day for 10 – 15 days.
Adverse effects:
GI disturbance
Dizziness,headache
Pruriuts ,urticaria,Leucopenia
Contraindications and precautions:
hepatitis ,leucopenia
Used with caution under 8 years of age.