An in vitro effect of propolis on adult worms of Fasciola gigantica

The effect of Siwa propolis on adult flukes was evaluated using scanning electron microcopy. It gave an overview of the surface architecture of the tegument of Fasciola gigantica apical cone. The base of the spines appeared to be flaking off and showed severe blebbing after 24 h incubation with 10 mu g/ml propolis. This swelling became so sever and the spines were barely visible, on increasing the concentration to 20 mu g/ml. Besides, there were many large blebs on the apical cone, a number of which appeared to have burst, causing lesions and the tegument was marked by a number of pits caused by the loss of spines. With the higher concentration of 30 mu g/ml, erosion of the surface had occurred to such extent that no tegument remained, only a mass of fibrous structures. The tegumental changes occurred following incubation in propolis were compared with those observed with triclabendazole (TCBZ) Fasinex because of its high efficacy against both mature and immature flukes. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.