Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) is one of the parasitic nematodes of a highly zoonotic importance. It infects various vertebrates, including human. In this study eighty (n =80) Swiss albino mice were experimentally infected by T. spiralis to assess the nematocidal activity of tannic acid (TA) and albendazole (ABZ) individually or in combination during the intestinal phase of T. spiralis. Mice were divided into 10 equal groups 8 mice for each, (control): non-infected but received saline, (ABZ): non-infected and treated with ABZ 50 mg/kg, (TA1000): non-infected and treated with TA1000 µg/ml, (TA2000): non-infected and treated with TA2000 µg/ml, (ABZ+TA2000): non-infected and treated with ABZ 50 mg/kg + TA2000 µg/ml , (TS): infected non treated, (TS+ABZ) group: infected and treated with ABZ 50mg/kg, (TS+TA1000): infected and treated with TA1000 µg/ml, (TS+TA2000): infected and treated with TA2000 µg/ml and (TS+ABZ+TA2000): infected and treated with ABZ 50mg/kg + TA2000 µg/ml. Mice were sacrificed at 7th day post infection. Results demonstrated significant reductions in the adult worm count in TS+TA1000, TS+ABZ, TS+ TA2000 and TS+ABZ+TA2000 with efficacies of 91%, 92%, 92% & 99% respectively. Results were confirmed by histopathological examination of the targeted organs. The degree of necrosis was decreased in treated groups, associated with reduction in the percentage of eosinophils. Elevated concentrations of serum ALT, AST, glucose and urea in the infected group were decreased in treated groups, while albumin was increased.
It was concluded that the combined albendazole-tannic acid therapy had the highest effect on reducing parasite burden and restoring normal histological architecture.