Author(s): Laura Aguilar-Vega, Sylvia Páz Díaz Camacho, Francisco Delgado Vargas, Kaethe Willms and Rimma Zurabian

Abstract: Taenia crassiceps is an asexually proliferating cestode, may give rise to a high number of cysts in the experimental conditions and become a suitable model organism for drug screening in the absence T. solium cysts, responsible for human and swine cysticercosis. Although there is no conclusive evidence on resistant cestodes, alternative treatments are relevant for the human and animal health. A methanol extract from Psidium sartorianum (O. Berg) Nied. Berries (AME) was used to evaluate anti-parasitic effect on T. crassiceps cysticerci. Metacestodes were exposed to 25, 50 or 100 mg/ml of AME for up to 72 h. The tissue impairment at the tegumentary and subtegumentary levels was seen after 2.5 h of treatment with 100 mg/ml or 24 h after when treated with 50 mg/ml of AME. Here we report denuded microtriches and blebbing on the surface of cysts. The results indicate that high concentrations of AME must be employed in order to achieve relevant tissue damage in the short time. Therefore active components must be characterized for their anti-parasitic effect.