In-vitro sensitivity study of oral metronidazole preparations

Entamoeba histolytica, associated with high morbidity and mortality continues to be a major public health problem throughout the world. Poverty, ignorance, overcrowding, poor sanitation and malnutrition favors transmission and increased disease burden. The aim of the study was to evaluate in vitro sensitivity of different metronidazole tablets from Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals against clinical isolates of E. histolytica. Metronidazole tablets of 12 different brands were randomized from some big and small pharmaceuticals according to their business. The parasite count was adjusted to 3×106 parasites/ml in a medium. In vitro drug sensitivity assay of the samples was carried out by using microtiter plates after treatment with different concentrations of metronidazoles. The viable parasites were counted by haemocytometer. No statistical significance was observed in terms of viable parasites with the metronidazole tablets from three big pharmaceuticals at the concentration of 2.3, 3.5 and 4.6 µM when compared with the standard metronidazole. We conclude that brands from some big pharmaceuticals showed in vitro sensitivity against E. histolytica.