Activity of a new oxadiazole compound, against experimental infections with Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia in animal models.

BTI 2286E(+/-)-E-3-(4-methylsulphinylstyryl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole has demonstrated potent amoebicidal activity in a single-dose treatment against Entamoeba histolytica infection in the livers of golden hamsters and the caeca of mice, hamsters and rats. It has intra luminal activity against Entamoeba criceti, a natural infection in golden hamster, and anti-giardial activity against Giardia lamblia infection in suckling mice. BTI 2286E is more potent than metronidazole in extra intestinal, intra luminal amoebiasis models and has significant advantages in that it is non-mutagenic in the Ames test and has a shorter duration of effective treatment.