Effects of anthelmintics on the development of eggs of Angiostrongylus costaricensis in vitro

Effects of the anthelmintics, pyrantel and levamisole, on egg development of Angiostrongylus costaricensis were studied in vitro. After 7 days, about 80% of eggs developed to first-stage larvae in Ham's F-12 medium with 10% foetal calf serum under 5% CO2. Significant inhibition of development was caused by pyrantel (10-9–10-8 g ml-1) and levamisole (10-9–10-8 g ml-1) (Mann-Whitney U-test; P<0.05), and none of the eggs developed to first-stage larvae in higher concentrations of these anthelmintics (10-7 g ml-1). Furthermore, incubation with these drugs at 10-8 g ml-1 for at least 3 h or at 10-4 g ml-1 for 1 h caused irreversible effects on egg development.