The immunomodulatory activity of secnidazole–nitazoxanide in a murine cryptosporidiosis model

Abstract

Introduction. Cryptosporidium parvum causes intestinal parasitic infections affecting both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals. Gap statement. Given the absence of effective treatments for cryptosporidiosis, especially in immunodeficient patients, the present study was designed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of secnidazole (SEC) and its combination with nitazoxanide (NTZ) in comparison to single NTZ treatment in relation to the immune status of a murine model of C. parvum infection. Methodology. The infected groups were administered NTZ, SEC or NTZ–SEC for three or five successive doses. At days 10 and 12 post-infection (p.i.), the mice were sacrificed, and the efficacy of the applied drugs was evaluated by comparing the histopathological alterations in ileum and measuring the T helper Th1 (interferon gamma; IFN-γ), Th2 [interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10] and Th17 (IL-17) cytokine profiles in serum. Results. The NTZ–SEC combination recorded the maximal reduction of C. parvum oocyst shedding, endogenous stages count and intestinal histopathology, regardless of the immune status of the infected mice. The efficacy of NTZ–SEC was dependent on the period of administration, as the 5 day-based treatment protocol was also more effective than the 3 day-based one in terms of immunocompetence and immunosuppression. The present treatment schedule induced an immunomodulatory effect from SEC that developed a protective immune response against C. parvum infection with reduced production of serum IL-17, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10. Conclusions. Application of NTZ–SEC combined therapy may be useful in treatment of C. parvum, especially in cases involving immunosuppression.

Case Report: Refractory Cryptosporidiosis after CAR T-Cell Therapy for Lymphoma

“…For instance, in early 2021, data were published demonstrating that combination therapy with secnidazole-nitazoxanide was effective in reducing oocyst shedding and intestinal histopathology in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent mouse models. 17 Although these data were published 2 years after our case, it is reassuring to note that new therapeutic options are continuing to be explored to expand our future treatment options.…”

Preparation of polyclonal anti-Schistosoma mansoni cysteine protease antibodies for early diagnosis

“…It is worth noting that ELISA has been regarded as a reliable assay for detecting antibodies to fluke antigens in rabbits. As an immunodiagnostic approach for numerous parasite illnesses and for quantitative evaluation of many immunological markers, the ELISA has received the greatest attention in many studies (Abdel-Monaem et al 2015;Madbouly et al 2021;Farid et al, 2022b). In this study, the produced anti-S mansoni IgG pAb was utilized for the detection of CP Ags in stool (coproantigens) and sera samples of infected patients by sandwich ELISA.…”

The potential use of serum interleukin-21 as biomarker for lupus nephritis activity compared to cytokines of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family

“…All patients met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) revised criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 12 Patients with other autoimmune diseases, chronic liver diseases, type-1 diabetes, hypertension, and malignancy were excluded. The disease activity was assessed using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), active SLE was considered if SLEDAI score >4.…”