Assessment of Therapeutic Efficacy of Plumbagin on Experimental Cryptosporidiosis

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

1 Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt

2 Pathology Department, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: The standard treatment of cryptosporidiosis is nitazoxanide (NTZ) which has low efficacy in malnourished children and immuno-compromised patients, also drug resistance was recorded. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of plumbagin (PB) on experimental cryptosporidiosis compared to NTZ. Methodology: A total of 60 pathogens free immunosuppressed mice were divided into six equal groups, categorized as a negative control group, plumbagin drug control group and four Cryptosporidium-infected groups: positive control, PB treated group, NTZ treated group and combined PB+ NTZ treated group. To assess the therapeutic efficacy, oocyst count, histopathological and immune staining examination for ileum and lung tissues sections by nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) were done. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination of ileum sections was also performed. All procedures were done at the end of the experiment on 24th day post-infection (dpi). Results: The current study revealed that despite the more reduction of Cryptosporidium-oocysts count induced by NTZ, PB achieved better histopathological and immunological improvement of the ileal and lung tissues compared to NTZ. The best results were recorded with PB+NTZ combination. Conclusion: Plumbagin is a promising agent in treating cryptosporidiosis and preserving ileal and lung tissues from histopathological changes. Additionally, it decreased NF-κB expression in ileal and lung sections.

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