<div style="text-align: justify;">Paramphistomosis is a chronic, debilitating parasitic disease of livestock prevalent in the tropical and sub-tropical countries. Globally there is a heavy reliance on anthelmintics but concerns over drug resistance encourage the search for new leads. Metalloproteinases play a significant role in the biology and life cycle of parasitic helminths. The efficacy of metalloproteinase inhibitor, 1,10-Phenanthroline (1,10-phe) which is commonly used as a specific enzyme inhibitor in biochemical assays, was tested in vitro on Gigantocotyle explanatum tegument as a marker of anthelmintic action. The scanning electron microscopy revealed that the tegumental surface exhibited considerable changes in the worms treated with the metalloenzyme inhibitor, 1,10-phe. The untreated control worms appeared normal showing smooth tegumental surface with abundant dome shaped papillae in the anterior to mid region, while their density was less around the acetabulum which serves as a hold-fast organ helping the worms to remain attached in biliary passage. The 1,10-phe produced significant tegumental damage when the liver amphistomes were in vitro exposed to this compound at 12.5 &micro;M concentration. The surface changes appeared in the form of edematous ridges with prominent furrows and erosion of the dome shaped papillae with rosette shaped deep lesions as a result of which deep parenchymatous tissues were exposed. The collapse of sensory bulbs as well as sloughing of tegument, particularly in the anterior-mid region was observed. The nature of damage could be comparable to various anthelmintics used in previous studies. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of direct exposure of amphistome worms to zinc metallo-enzyme inhibitor, however, further in vivo studies are required to ascertain the anthelmintic efficacy of 1,10-phe.</div>

The anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline, a metalloenzyme inhibitor

<div>A total of 1169 dung samples from domestic ruminants were examined to record the prevalence of paramphistomosis infection. In cattle, the prevalence of infection by direct smear (DS) and sedimentation method (SD) was 17.43% and 31.19%, respectively. In sheep, the prevalence rates were recorded higher than cattle (26.09% and 33.18%). In goats, the prevalence of paramphistomosis was 20.66% and 30.52%. Out of 109 cattle carcasses, 47 were found with flukes in rumen, reticulum and bile duct during slaughterhouse examination (SH). In sheep and goat, the prevalence rates were 42.15% and 40.85%, respectively by SH. Age-wise the highest prevalence was recorded in cattle of 2-4 years (50.0%) by SH. In goats, the prevalence of infection was lower in the age group of &lt;1 year, when compared to their counterparts in sheep. In contrast, the higher prevalence was noticed in &gt;1-2 years old goats (63.27%) than sheep of the same age group (36.85%). Sex-wise, statistically no significant difference was observed between male and female animals. Morphologically identified, Cotylophoron cotylophorum, Paramphistomum cervi, Gastrothylax crumenifer, Fischoederius elongatus and Gigantocotyle spp. In conclusion, an overall prevalence of 24.29%, 32.51% and 42.0% of paramphistomosis infection was recorded in cattle, sheep and goats by DS, SD and SH examinations, respectively.&nbsp;</div>


The anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline, a metalloenzyme inhibitor

Prevalence of Paramphistomosis in Domestic Ruminants in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India