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The genus Trichinella, family Trichinellidae, comprises several encapsulating and non-encapsulating species. The most important species infecting man is Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis), which exists in its adult stage as the largest known intracellular infectious agent, and in its larval form in well-protected collagen capsules surrounding complex nursing cells. The involvement of several developmental stages of T. spiralis in disease pathogenesis and the targeting of different body systems, makes trichinellosis a rich and peculiar model for host-parasite interaction and antiparasite immunity (Gottstein et al., 2009).

Intestinal and muscular damage is induced by the direct invasive potential of adult worms and larvae, respectively, in addition to the immunopathology resulting from the host’s immune reponse. In comparison, T. spiralis-induced myocarditis results from an eosinophilic inflammatory reaction, since parasite stages do not reside in cardiac muscle tissue (Hidron et al., 2010). Benzimidazole derivatives, particularly albendazole and mebendazole, are the main antiparasitic agents employed for the treatment of trichinellosis. Albendazole acts by binding to cuticular tubulin, thus causing structural damage to the parasite (Pozzio et al., 2001). While the efficacy of albendazole is pronounced against adult worms in the small intestine, it is less potent against encysted larvae in skeletal muscles (Attia et al., 2015).