Ivermectin Inhibits Molting of Wuchereria bancrofti Third Stage Larvae In Vitro

Authors

J. Kevin Baird, ALERTAsia FoundationFollow
Wiwiek Riberu, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit #2, Jakarta Detachment, APO San Francisco
Sofyan Masbar, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit #2, Jakarta Detachment, APO San Francisco
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit #2, Jakarta Detachment, APO San Francisco, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit #2, Jakarta Detachment, APO San Francisco

Date of this Version

1991

Citation

J. Parasitol., 77(1), 1991, p. 162-163

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

The effect of ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine (DEC) on Wuchereria bancrofti molting from the third to the fourth larval stage (L₃ to L₄) was evaluated in vitro. L₃ larvae were harvested from laboratoryreared Aedes togoi 2 wk after feeding upon a microfilaremic human volunteer. The larvae were kept in an artificialm edium (Franke's NI medium) with 10% human serum under an atmosphere of 5% CO₂ for 20 days. Experimental tubes also contained ivermectin (0.1-1,000 ng/ml) or DEC (0.1-10,000 ng/ml). An estimated concentration of 50 ng/ml ivermectin inhibited molting in 50% of the larvae expected to molt. For DEC, this value was roughly 1,000 ng/ml. In this in vitro culture system, ivermectin inhibited the L₃ to L₄ molt of W. bancrofti and was roughly 20-fold more potent in this activity than DEC.