Serological analysis of infected mice 14 weeks post-infection.

<p>Antibody responses of subcutaneously (sc) and intraperitoneally (ip) infected mice, either treated with albendazole (ABZ) or not (untreated) were measured by ELISA employing recombinant Em18 (EM18), Em2(G11)-antigen (EM2) or hydatid fluid. Error bars indicate standard deviations. There is no difference in the responses of treated versus respective untreated animals, and no significant difference can be seen between the two infection models.</p

Parasite burden and weight control.

<p><b>A</b>) Parasite burden of intraperitoneally (ip) and subcutaneously (sc) infected animal models. Albendazole treatment was initiated at 6 weeks post-infection. Each treatment group comprised 5 infected animals. scABZ and ipABZ groups received albendazole in honey/CMC, sc-untreated and ip-untreated groups received honey/CMC without compound. The <i>P</i> values indicate the scores obtained by student's t-test in comparison with the respective untreated groups. <b>B</b>) Weight control of mice throughout the study. Representation of average weight of different experimental groups at defined timepoints during the study. Treatments were initiated at day 42 p.i. The non-infected controls are not shown. The groups were divided into route of infection (subcutaneous = sc; intraperitoneal = ip), and in albendazole-treated (scABZ; ipABZ) or non-treated (sc-untreated; ip-untreated).</p

TEM of metacestodes recovered from untreated and subcutaneously infected treated mice.

<p>Metacestodes recovered from intraperitoneally (A and B) and subcutaneously (C and D) infected mice exhibit a well-defined laminated layer (LL), which is in close physical contact with adjacent host tissue (ht). The tegument, with microtriches (arrows) protruding well into the LL, and the germinal layer (GL) exhibiting undifferentiated cells and glycogen storage cells, are clearly visible. Metacestodes from animals subcutaneously infected and treated orally with albendazole show a reduced and less defined laminated layer (LL), which maintains contact with host tissue components. This is clearly visible in G. Other alterations can be seen in E and F, such as the loss of integrity of the germinal layer (GL) and the absence of microtriches (for comparison refer to A–D). Similar structural damage was observed on the material collected from intraperitoneally infected animals treated with albendazole (results not shown).</p