Progress of WHO-essential flukicide triclabendazole and its remarkable impact in combating fascioliasis in human and animal herbivores

Abstract

Fascioliasis is a food-borne important disease in ruminants caused by
Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. WHO classifies the disease as a
neglected tropical zoonosis with an estimated millions of people infected
and at risk of infection. Triclabendazole has become a medicine of choice
both for animal and human fascioliasis. Owing to its high flukicidal efficacy,
especially, against immature flukes, it has become established as the
principal anti-fluke drug on the market. Consequently, triclabendazole
resistance in livestock and humans continues to be reported necessitating a
better insight of the crucial aspects of this drug, including pharmacokinetics,
pharmacodynamics, and understanding of the mechanism of resistance and
reversal of the drug. Despite years of research, the full mystery of
triclabendazole use in medicine has not been yet fully deciphered and thus
the issue well deserves to be dealt with. Keeping that in mind we have
endeavored to elucidate the potential progress as well as aforementioned
crucial aspects of the drug.