A preliminary study on the therapeutic potential of pulsed electric fields (PEF) in hydatid cysts: ex vivo targeted detachment of the germinal layer in daughter cysts.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a globally parasitic disease is primarily caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. This zoonotic infection carries significant medical, veterinary, and economic implications. In human the disease occurs by the ingestion of parasite eggs and can create in any organ especially liver and lungs. Current therapeutic methods have some limitations. Therefore, effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) as a non-invasive method was utilized on daughter cysts as an important part of hydatid cyst. Daughter cysts was extracted from sheep liver hydatid cyst, divided into three groups. The first group was exposed to PEF at intensities of 70V/cm, 150 V/cm and 1300V/cm. The second group was treated with albendazole (100 μg/ml). The third group, was exposed with different intensities of PEF (as above) following incubation of daughter cysts with albendazole (100 μg/ml). Structural changes in the daughter cysts were analyzed using a stereomicroscope. The laminated layer remained undamaged in all three groups. In the first group (PEF), some degree of opacity and detachment of germinal layer was observed especially in higher pulse intensity (1300 V/cm). Albendazole treatment (second group) induced significant opacity. In the combined PEF and albendazole (third group), although germinal layer detachment was occurred in addition to opacity but the level of detachment was not similar to those that observed in the first group. The destructive effect of PEF on the germinal layer of daughter cysts can be considered as a promising result in the treatment of CE.