OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of nitazoxanide and paromomycin in biliary tract cryptosporidiosis in an immunosuppressed Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) model. METHODS: Gerbils (1-month-old) were dexamethasone-immunosuppressed for 10 days and challenged orally with 10(5) Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. From day 0 to day 12 post-infection, one group (n=14) was treated with 200 mg/kg/day nitazoxanide and another (n=15) with 100 mg/kg/day paromomycin. Infection and efficacy of nitazoxanide and paromomycin were assessed by measuring oocyst shedding in faeces, biliary tract and ileum histological examination. RESULTS: In nitazoxanide-treated and paromomycin-treated groups as compared with untreated animals (P<0.05), oocyst shedding was partially suppressed in a similar manner (P>0.05). Parasites were present in histological sections of the ileal mucosa of 16/16 infected untreated animals versus 3/14 and 6/15 in the nitazoxanide-treated and the paromomycin-treated groups, respectively (P<0.05). In addition, gall bladder infection was less frequent in nitazoxanide-treated (2/14, P<0.01) and paromomycin-treated (5/15, P=0.07) animals than in untreated controls (9/16). No histological alteration of biliary mucosa was observed in both treated and untreated infected gerbils. CONCLUSIONS: Present data support the efficacy of nitazoxanide and, to a lesser extent, paromomycin on biliary C. parvum infection in gerbils, and prompt further investigation of the potential clinical benefits of nitazoxanide in treating human biliary cryptosporidiosis.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of nitazoxanide and paromomycin in biliary tract cryptosporidiosis in an immunosuppressed Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) model. METHODS: Gerbils (1-month-old) were dexamethasone-immunosuppressed for 10 days and challenged orally with 10(5) Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. From day 0 to day 12 post-infection, one group (n=14) was treated with 200 mg/kg/day nitazoxanide and another (n=15) with 100 mg/kg/day paromomycin. Infection and efficacy of nitazoxanide and paromomycin were assessed by measuring oocyst shedding in faeces, biliary tract and ileum histological examination. RESULTS: In nitazoxanide-treated and paromomycin-treated groups as compared with untreated animals (P<0.05), oocyst shedding was partially suppressed in a similar manner (P>0.05). Parasites were present in histological sections of the ileal mucosa of 16/16 infected untreated animals versus 3/14 and 6/15 in the nitazoxanide-treated and the paromomycin-treated groups, respectively (P<0.05). In addition, gall bladder infection was less frequent in nitazoxanide-treated (2/14, P<0.01) and paromomycin-treated (5/15, P=0.07) animals than in untreated controls (9/16). No histological alteration of biliary mucosa was observed in both treated and untreated infected gerbils. CONCLUSIONS: Present data support the efficacy of nitazoxanide and, to a lesser extent, paromomycin on biliary C. parvuminfection in gerbils, and prompt further investigation of the potential clinical benefits of nitazoxanide in treating human biliary cryptosporidiosis.
Authors: Suresh Kumar Gorla; Nina N McNair; Guangyi Yang; Song Gao; Ming Hu; Venkatakrishna R Jala; Bodduluri Haribabu; Boris Striepen; Gregory D Cuny; Jan R Mead; Lizbeth Hedstrom Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2013-12-23 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Aaron R Jex; Aradhana Pangasa; Bronwyn E Campbell; Margaret Whipp; Geoff Hogg; Martha I Sinclair; Melita Stevens; Robin B Gasser Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2008-04-30 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: F Del Chierico; M Onori; S Di Bella; E Bordi; N Petrosillo; D Menichella; S M Cacciò; F Callea; L Putignani Journal: Ann Trop Med Parasitol Date: 2011-07