Dipetalonema viteae and Brugia pahangi transplant infections in gerbils for use in antifilarial screening

• Published in: Journal of helminthology 1988-03, Vol.62 (1), p.1-9
• Main Authors: Court, J. P., Stables, J. N., Lees, G. M., Martin-Short, M. R., Rankin, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anthelmintics - therapeutic use; Brugia - physiology; Brugia pahangi; Dipetalonema - physiology; Dipetalonema Infections - drug therapy; Dipetalonema Infections - parasitology; Dipetalonema Infections - transmission; Dipetalonema viteae; Elephantiasis, Filarial - drug therapy; Elephantiasis, Filarial - parasitology; Elephantiasis, Filarial - transmission; Female; Filariasis - parasitology; filaricides; Filaricides - therapeutic use; gerbil; Gerbillinae; Male; Research Papers; transplanted infections
• ISSN: 0022-149X; 1475-2697
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X00011123

Transplanted infections of Dipetalonema viteae and Brugia pahangi have been evaluated as tools for experimental chemotherapy. Attempts were made to establish these filariae in similar pharmacokinetic sites within the same host, so that direct comparisons of in vivo drug susceptibilities could be made. Unfortunately, it was not possible to establish B. pahangi in the subcutaneous tissues, the preferred site of D. viteae. Therefore, intraperitoneal B. pahangi and subcutaneously implanted D. viteae in gerbils were used for the study. D. viteae infections were significantly enhanced by concomitant infections with B. pahangi, while B. pahangi infection rates were unaffected by the presence of D. viteae. Experiments with amoscanate, CGP6140 and Mel W demonstrated the importance of employing both B. pahangi and D. viteae for antifilarial discovery work and the fundamental effect of parasite location on drug efficacy. D. viteae rapidly migrate from the peritoneal cavity of gerbils following implantation; twenty one hours after infection 73% of transplanted worms were found in the subcutaneous tissues. It was shown that the migration response could be used as a stringent parameter for demonstrating antifilarial activity. D. viteae were exposed to antifilarial drugs for 24 hours in vitro, washed and implanted into the peritoneal cavity of gerbils. At autopsy, 5 days later, 10−8M ivermectin and milbemycin D had prevented migration; CGP6140, amoscanate, suramin, flubendazole and furapyrimidone were also detected at