Abstract: Objective   To observe therapeutic effect of hepatic artery infusion of albendazole solid dispersionchitosan microspheres on hepatic alveolar echinococcosis （HAE） in rats.  Methods   After the establishment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis model，30 rats were randomly divided into control group（A），blank microspheres group（B），and albendazole microspheres group（C） with 10 rats in each group. 0.3 ml normal saline，2.7 mg/kg blank microspheres and 2.7 mg/kg albendazole solid dispersionchitosan microspheres with 0.3 ml normal saline were injected through hepatic artery of rats in the groups of A，B and C，respectively. At 1 d，3 d，7 d，14 d，and 42 d after injection，venous blood were collected，and white blood cells （WBC），apartate aminotransferase （AST），and alanine aminotransferase（ALT）were evaluated. All the rats were sacrificed on 42 d after injection，and HAE pathological changes were observed.  Results   Transient elevation of white blood cells was observed in all groups at 1 d after infusion ［Group A （86.11±19.14）×109/L，B （117.11±21.76）×109/L，C （118.11±24.52）×109/L］，at 7 d WBC fell to normal level ［A （7.85±6.57）×109/L，B （11.73±4.85）×109/L，C （8.49±1.36）×109/L］. In groups B and C，AST，ALT reached their peaks on day 3 after infusion ［B：AST （193.15±21.57） U/L，ALT （78.39±9.78） U/L；C：AST （189.91±14.06） U/L，ALT （88.43±9.23） U/L］， and decreased to normal level at 14 d after infusion ［B：AST （109.31±15.48） U/L，ALT（47.855±9.49） U/L；C：AST（105.37±8.16） U/L，ALT（49.53±6.75）U/L］. Histopathological examination at 42 d after infusion showed that in groups A and B structure of the cysts was virtually normal，but in group C most cysts showed necrosis in germinal layer.   Conclusion   Hepatic artery infusion with albendazole solid dispersionchitosan microspheres shows certain therapeutic effect on hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in rats.

Key words: Albendazole, Chitosan microsphere, Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, Infusion