Question

Write essays on the following and discuss their importance in the fight against parasite infections.

a)Albendazole

b) Ivermectin

c) Praziquantel

d) Piperazine

d) Piperazine

Answer 1

1) Albendazole is an anthelmintic or anti-worm medication. It prevents newly hatched insect larvae (worms) from growing or multiplying in the body. Albendazole is a synthetic nitroimidazole with a broad spectrum of antinematodal activity. It binds irreversibly to the nematodal isoform of β-tubulin, blocking microtubule assembly, disrupting tegumental integrity, inhibiting motility, and impeding glucose uptake by the worm.

2) Ivermectin is a medication used to treat many types of parasite infestations like head lices, scabies, river blindness, strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, and lymphatic filariasis. It is a derivative of avermectin B1, a type of macrocyclic lactone that was discovered in the 1970s as a product of the actinomycete Streptomyces avermitilis.

3) Praziquantel is a medication used to treat a number of types of parasitic worm infections like schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, tapeworm infections, cysticercosis, hydatid disease, and other fluke infections. It disrupts the parasite tegument, causing tetanic contractures with loss of adherence to host tissues and, ultimately, disintegration or expulsion. It also interferes with parasite metabolism, exposing concealed antigens in the parasite.

4) Piperazine is used to treat common roundworms (ascariasis) and pinworms (enterobiasis; oxyuriasis) and is therefore, termed as an anthelimintics. Piperazine acts to block neuromuscular transmission in the parasite resulting in flaccid paralysis and rapid expulsion of parasites. Piperazine should not be used in animals with a heavy parasite load, in particular foals, because it may result in an ascarid-impaction colic or intestinal perforation.

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