The Effects of Reference Anthelmintics against Nematospiroides dubius and Oxyurids in Mice Relative to Screening Procedures for New Drugs

Abstract

This paper deals with a continuing search for adequate screening procedures that would expedite the development of better anthelmintics, particularly for combatting intestinal nematodes. Reflection upon the general problem and a review of the literature attest so clearly to the inadequacy of available methods as to require no elaboration upon the need for better methods. Nematospiroides dubius Baylis, 1926, has been demonstrated to be infectious for laboratory mice (Baker, 1954). This contribution along with the oxyurids Aspiculuris tetraptera Schulz, 1924, and Syphacia obvelata Seurat, 1916, which occur as cosmopolitan natural infections, enables simultaneous study of drugs in mice against three intestinal nematodes that not only represent different taxonomic groups but also have predilections for different portions of the intestinal tract. N. dubius resides in the upper portion of the small intestine (unpublished observations) while S. obvelata and A. tetraptera have predilections, respectively, for the cecum and large intestine (Thompson and Reinertson, 1952). The effects of selected anthelmintics under various treatment regimens against these infections constitute the body of this report.