In vitro susceptibilities of the microsporidia Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis to albendazole and its sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites

Abstract

In vitro comparisons demonstrated that the efficacy of albendazole, albendazole-sulfoxide, and albendazolesulfone against pathogenic Encephalitozoon species was proportional to the degree of oxidation at a concentration of >10-3 μg/ml. Furthermore, at a concentration of <10-2 μg/ml, benzimidazoles were more effective against Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Encephalitozoon hellem than against Encephalitozoon intestinalis.