Therapeutic Approaches to Trichinella Spiralis Infections
Summary
Trichinellosis, caused by the nematode Trichinella spiralis, remains a significant zoonotic concern worldwide. Current anthelmintic regimens, dominated by benzimidazole derivatives such as albendazole and mebendazole, effectively reduce adult worm burden during the intestinal phase but often fail to eradicate encysted larvae in muscle tissue and carry notable side-effect profiles. This therapeutic gap has driven a proliferation of research into alternative and adjunctive strategies, including drug repurposing, plant-derived compounds, nano-formulations and host-directed therapies.
Recent work has explored immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenic tactics aimed at disrupting the nurse cell microenvironment that shelters encysted larvae. Parallel efforts in nanotechnology have yielded novel delivery systems designed both to enhance drug bioavailability and to achieve targeted larvicidal activity. Together, these approaches seek to overcome pharmacokinetic limitations of conventional agents, mitigate host tissue damage and reduce the risk of emerging drug resistance.
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Therapeutic Approaches to Trichinella Spiralis Infections publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in therapeutic approaches to trichinella spiralis infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Encysted larvae: Muscle-phase stage of Trichinella spiralis, enclosed within a collagen capsule (nurse cell) that shields the parasite from host immunity.
Nanostructured lipid carriers: Biocompatible, nanoscale lipid-based particles engineered to encapsulate drugs, improving solubility, controlled release and targeted delivery.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs): Nanoscale silver particles synthesised to exploit antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties, often stabilised by biological extracts.
Mesenchymal stem cells: Multipotent stromal cells capable of modulating immune responses and promoting tissue repair, investigated as adjuncts in parasitic infections.
Angiogenesis: Formation of new blood vessels, a process co-opted by Trichinella spiralis during nurse cell formation to secure nutrient supply for encysted larvae.
References
- Impact of atorvastatin and mesenchymal stem cells combined with ivermectin on murine trichinellosis. Parasitology Research (2023).
- Appraisal of Chitosan-Coated Lipid Nano-Combination with Miltefosine and Albendazole in the Treatment of Murine Trichinellosis: Experimental Study with Evaluation of Immunological and Immunohistochemical Parameters. Acta Parasitologica (2024).
- Therapeutic effects of myrrh extract and myrrh-based silver nanoparticles on Trichinella spiralis-infected mice: parasitological, histopathological, and immunological (IFN-γ, IL-10, and MMP-9) investigations. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2024).
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