الفهرس 
Evaluation of the efficacy of nitazoxanide and amebazole in treatment of cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed mice
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Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) is an intestinal parasitic infection affecting both
immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals. Considering the absence of effective
treatment against 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 on a
murine model of C. parvum infection. The infected groups were administered NTZ, SEC or
NTZ-SEC combination for 3 or 5 successive doses. At days 10 and 12, post infection (PI), 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. The
NTZ-SEC combination recorded the maximal reduction of C. parvum oocysts shedding,
endogenous stages count and intestinal histopathology regardless to the immune status of the
infected mice. The efficacy of NTZ-SEC combination was dependent on the period of
administration as the 5 days based treatment protocol was more effective than 3 days based one
in immunocompetence and immunosuppression as well. The present treatment schedule induced
immunomodulatory effect of SEC that develops a protective immune response against C. parvum
infection with reduced production of serum IL-17, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10. Application of NTZSEC combined therapy may be useful in treatment of C. parvum especially in case of
immunosuppression.