in vitro effects of metronidazole and albendazole on giardia lamblia isolated from iranian patients

background : the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of metronidazole and albendazole against clinical isolates of giardia lamblia in vitro. methods : from all human samples of containing cysts, 10 isolates were successfully excysted in vitro . trophozites viability was assessed by eosine 0.1% and cultured axenically in tyi-s-33 modified medium supplemented with heat inactivated bovine serum 10%. all cultures were incubated in 37°c for 24-48 h. after this time trophozoites were exposed to different concentration (0.05, 0.1, 2, 10, 50 µg/ml) of drugs at 37º for 4 h.  the ic 50 estimated between 0.1 and 10µg/ml for metronidazole and 0.062 and 0.1 µg/ml for albendazole. results : eight isolates were found susceptible to the metronidazole while all isolates were found susceptible to the albendazole. statistical results indicated that there was significant difference ( p <0.05) in the sensitivity to metronidazole and albendazole in all isolates.