Potent efficiency of the novel nitazoxanide-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers against experimental cyclosporiasis.

Cyclosporiasis is a ubiquitous infection caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite known as Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis). The disease is characterized by severe diarrhea which may be regrettably fatal in immunosuppressed patients. The commercially available treatment options have either severe side effects or low efficiency. In the present study, the novel formula of nitazoxanide (NTZ)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) was assessed for the first time for C. cayetanensis treatment in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice in comparison to commercially available drugs (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and NTZ). Swiss Albino mice were orally infected by 104 sporulated oocysts. The experimental groups were treated with the gold standard TMP-SMX, NTZ, blank NLCs and NTZ-loaded NLCs. The results demonstrated that NTZ-loaded NLCs represented the highest significant parasite percent reduction of (>98% reduction) in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice designating successful tissue penetration and avoiding recurrence of infection at the end of the study. Oocysts treated with NTZ-loaded NLCs demonstrated the most mutilated rapturing morphology via scanning electron microscope examination as well as representing the most profound improvement of the histopathological picture. In conclusion, NTZ-loaded NLCs exhibited the uppermost efficacy in the treatment of cyclosporiasis. The safe nature and the anti-parasitic effect of the novel formulation encourage its use as a powerful treatment for human cyclosporiasis.

The powerful synergistic effect of spiramycin/propolis loaded chitosan/alginate nanoparticles on acute murine toxoplasmosis.

The novel formula of spiramycin/propolis loaded chitosan (CS)/alginate (Alg) nanoparticles (NPs) was assessed for Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) treatment in comparison with the commercially available spiramycin regarding tissue penetration and blood brain barrier (BBB) passage. Swiss Albino mice were inoculated intraperitoneally by 2500 tachyzoites of the virulent T. gondii RH strain. The experimental groups were treated with oral spiramycin, propolis, CS/Alg NPs, spiramycin loaded CS/Alg NPs, propolis loaded CS/Alg NPs, and spiramycin/propolis loaded CS/Alg NPs. The results demonstrated that spiramycin/propolis loaded CS/Alg NPs exerted the longest survival time with no mortality on the sacrifice day (8th) in addition to representing the highest significant parasite percent reduction of (≥96% reduction) in liver, spleen and brain designating successful tissue penetration and BBB passage. Tachyzoites treated with spiramycin/propolis loaded CS/Alg NPs demonstrated the most disfigured rapturing organism via scanning electron microscope examination along with representing an overall remarkable improvement of the histopathological pictures of liver, spleen and brain. In conclusion, spiramycin/propolis loaded CS/Alg NPs showed the uppermost efficacy in the treatment of acute murine toxoplasmosis. The safe nature and the anti-parasitic effect of each of CS, Alg, spiramycin and propolis encourage the synergistic use of spiramycin/propolis loaded CS/Alg NPs as a potent treatment for human toxoplasmosis.