Effect of diethylcarbamazine, oxophenarsine hydrochloride and piperazine citrate on Toxocara canis larvae in mice

Abstract

Diethylcarbamazine (Hetrazan) and oxophenarsine hydrochloride (Mapharsen) but not piperazine citrate (Antepar) exhibited a limited degree of effectiveness against the larvae of Toxocara canis in white mice. Diethylcarbamazine used for a protracted period in an established T. canis infection in mice reduced the number of larvae to 35% of those recoverable from infected untreated control mice. However this drug proved ineffective against the larvae during hatching and early migration periods. Oxophenarsine hydrochloride in 1-mg doses either once or twice a week was somewhat effective when given for 6 weeks in an established T. canis infection in mice, reducing the larvae to 77% of the number recoverable from infected untreated controls. Blood eosinophilia was observed to occur during the known periods of larval migration of this ascarid in mice, although the magnitude was variable and apparently was unaffected by the administration of either diethylcarbamazine or oxophenarsine hydrochloride.