Insights on the therapeutic effect of quinolone-based compound, PPQ-8 plus Nitazoxanide, in chronic toxoplasmosis murine model | ||||
Parasitologists United Journal | ||||
Article 1, Volume 17, Issue 1, April 2024, Page 1-9 PDF (574.87 K) | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/PUJ.2024.247259.1230 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
Ayat Elblihy ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||
1Departments of Medical Parasitology, Faculties of Medicine,Mansoura University, Mansoura National University, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt | ||||
2Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Pharmacy Delta University for Science and Technology ,Gamasa, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt | ||||
3Departments of Pharmaceutical Pathology ,Faculties of Medicine, Mansoura University, Delta University for Science, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt | ||||
4Departments of Medical Parasitology, Faculties of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura ,Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt | ||||
5Departments of Medical Parasitolog, Faculties of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura National University, Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt | ||||
Abstract | ||||
Background: Recent studies showed promising results of the quinolone-based compound (PPQ-8) against schistosomiasis and toxoplasmosis. It is hypothesized that combined treatment by PPQ-8 with an anti-Toxoplasma drug may induce a convenient therapeutic effect on chronic toxoplasmosis. Objective: To evaluate the effect of PPQ-8 combined with nitazoxanide (NTZ) on chronic experimental toxoplasmosis. Material and Methods: After being infected for three months with ME49 T. gondii, forty female Swiss albino mice were randomly split into four equal groups. In comparison to untreated group, mice were treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine (PYR/SDZ), PPQ-8 alone or combined with nitazoxanide (PPQ-8/NTZ). Five mice from each group were sacrificed after the end of treatment (14 d) to evaluate drug efficacy using parasitological (brain cyst count and size), histopathological examination of brain tissues, measurement of brain inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and immunological (IFN-γ and TNF-α) parameters. The remaining 5 mice were monitored for 60 days to calculate survival time for each group. Results: The number and size of brain cysts were significantly decreased among all treated groups when compared with control infected untreated group. Histopathological studies of brain sections of control mice showed severe inflammation, mice treated with PYR/SDZ had moderate inflammation, those treated with PPQ-8 alone showed mild to moderate inflammation, and those receiving PPQ-8/NTZ had mild inflammation. Treatment with PPQ-8, and PPQ-8/NTZ induced an increase in serum level of IFN-γ, and reduction in the level of TNF-α as well as raised production of brain iNOS level. Treatment with PYR/SDZrecorded a significant reduction in serum level of IFN-γ, TNF-α and brain iNOS when compared with the infected untreated group. Conclusion: When combined with NTZ, PPQ-8 showed a promising regimen for treatment of chronic toxoplasmosis due to its synergistic effect. Combined treatment exhibited mild inflammation, increased levels of IFN-γ and iNOS, and decreased TNF-α production. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
chronic toxoplasmosis , ME49; mice , nitazoxanide , PPQ-8 | ||||
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