Schistosomiasis is a chronic debilitating parasitic disease that causes hepatic damage and is known to be endemic in developing countries. Recent control strategies for schistosomiasis depend exclusively on chemotherapeutic agents, specifically praziquantel. Unfortunately, praziquantel has low efficacy in the early phase of infection, and resistance to treatment is increasingly reported. The aim of this work was to find an alternative treatment by assessing the in vivo activity of aqueous extract of Callistemon citrinus against Schistosoma mansoni in both prepatent and patent phases in experimentally infected mice. The study was conducted on 80 male BALB/c albino mice divided into eight groups. Callistemon was administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg on days 14 and 45 post infection as a single therapy and in combination with praziquantel. Porto-mesenteric worm burden, hepatic and intestinal egg counts, hepatic granuloma number and diameter, and oogram pattern were assessed to evaluate the anti-schistosomal properties of C. citrinus. Liver enzymes and total bilirubin were tested to assess hepatoprotective effects. Results revealed that the use of C. citrinus was associated with a significant decrease in worm burden and tissue egg load together with an increased percentage of dead eggs. In addition, there was a significant reduction in granuloma formation. Callistemon also led to a significant improvement in liver function. The best results were obtained when C. citrinus was given in the prepatent phase of infection and when combined with praziquantel. Although the effects of C. citrinus are considered to be promising, further studies using different extracts, active ingredients and doses are needed.

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Background: Cryptosporidium species are worldwide coccidian parasites. They are considered the second cause of diarrhea and death in children after rotavirus. Current treatment options for cryptosporidiosis are limited. There is an urgent need to develop new anti-cryptosporidial agents. Aim of the Study: To assess the activity of Echinacea purpurea in treatment of experimental cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed mice. Methods: Ninety mice were immunosuppressed using oral dexamethasone and divided into 5 groups. Echinacea was used as 100 mg/kg/day on day 15 post infection for five consecutive days. Stool samples from all survived mice were subjected to modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining. All mice were sacrificed for histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining of their ilea sections for IL-17 and Cox-2. Results: The least mortality rate (0%), the least oocysts shedding (1.10±2.31), the least endogenous developmental stages (3.50 ± 2.24), the most improved pathological changes and the highest cure rate (90%) were observed in mice treated with Echinacea/nitazoxanide combination. Moreover, combination therapy significantly reduced IL-17 and Cox-2 expression in ileum sections compared to the positive control group. Echinacea monotherapy significantly reduced fecal oocyst shedding and ileal endogenous developmental stages with improved pathological changes compared to the positive control group. Echinacea increased the cure rate with no significant difference when compared to nitazoxanide. It significantly decreased IL-17 and Cox-2 in ileum sections compared to the positive control group. Conclusion: Echinacea purpurea/nitazoxanide combination represents significant advances in treatment of experimental cryptosporidiosis infection in immunosuppressed mice.