In Vivo Effects of a New Anthelmintic, Mebendazole (R-17,635) on the Eggs of Trichuris Trichiura and Hookworm *

Abstract
Mebendazole, a highly effective broad-spectrum anthelmintic, was tested for its in vivo effects on the eggs of Trichuris trichiura and hookworm recovered from patients treated with the drug. A marked reduction of the number of eggs that developed to the larval stage was observed for the eggs of both nematode species. The mean pre-treatment percentage of incubated whipworm eggs that developed to larvae was 81.7. One day following the initiation of treatment the mean percentage was 67.1. On day 2 the number was 1.4%, on day 3 it was 0.1%, and no eggs developed on day 4 and thereafter. The mean figure for incubated hookworm eggs in pre-treatment stools was 84.4% larval development. One day after treatment was started, 51.4% of the eggs collected in the stools and incubated were observed to develop. No eggs developed to the larval stage beyond day 1 following the start of treatment. Mebendazole has a highly ovicidal effect in treated patients.

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