The controverted therapeutic efficacy of Allium sativum and Artemisia herba-alba extracts on Cryptosporidium-infected mice.

INTRODUCTION: Cryptosporidiosis has become an issue of great interest being life-threatening among immunocompromised hosts worldwide. This study explored the curative effect of Allium sativum (garlic) and Artemisia herba-alba ethanolic extract versus Nitazoxanide drug on both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed-Cryptosporidium experimentally-infected mice. METHODOLOGY: One hundred male Swiss albino mice were divided into the following groups: (GI) non-infected non-treated group, (GII) infected non-treated group, (GIII) garlic treated group, (GIV) A. herba-alba treated group, (GV) Nitazoxanide treated group, each group subdivided into two subgroups (a) Immunocompetent, (b) immunosuppressed. The assessment was performed by parasitological counting of fecal oocysts, histological examination of intestinal tissue, immunological detection of interferon-gamma levels in mice sera, and ultrastructural study by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Garlic and A. herbal-alba extracts showed a decrease in the mean oocyst counts through all days of follow-up. This was associated with significant up-regulation of interferon-gamma cytokine levels in serum and histological improvement in intestinal tissues of mice compared to control groups and the results were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The highest efficacy was obtained by garlic, then by A. herbal-alba extracts followed by Nitazoxanide treated group; where the immunocompetent groups showed better improvement than immunosuppressed ones. CONCLUSIONS: Garlic has a perfect effect as a promising therapeutic agent against Cryptosporidiosis and therefore validates their traditional use in parasitic infections. Accordingly, it may offer a good option for cryptosporidium treatment in immunocompromised patients. They could be used as a natural safe product for the preparation of a new therapeutic agent.

The potential therapeutic effect of Nigella sativa and Zingiber officinale extracts versus Nitazoxanide drug against experimentally induced cryptosporidiosis in laboratory mice.

In this study, the potential anti-cryptosporidial effect of Nigella sativa (black seeds) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) alcoholic extracts versus Nitazoxanide (NTZ) medication was investigated in immunosuppressed (IS) laboratory mice. Parasitological, histopathological studies were used to assess their therapeutic efficacy. Serum level and tissue expression percentage of IFN-γ was also used. Nigella extract succeeded to reduce the mean oocyst counts in the feces of immunosuppressed mice followed by NTZ. Ginger-treated ones showed the lowest reduction percentage. Nigella sativa showed the best results in terms of restoring the normal architecture of ileal epithelium in histopathological sections stained with H&E. NTZ treatment sub-groups showed mild improvement, followed by ginger-treated mice, which showed a slight improvement in small intestine microenvironment. A significant substantial rise in serum and intestinal tissue IFN-γ cytokine levels were recorded in Nigella subgroups compared to those of NTZ and ginger respectively. According to our findings Nigella sativa outperformed Nitazoxanide in terms of anti-cryptosporidial effectiveness and regeneration characteristics revealing a promising medication. When compared to the commonly used Nitazoxanide medication or Nigella extracts, the outcomes of ginger extract were suboptimal.

Cytokine patterns in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni infected mice treated with silymarin.

The purpose of this study was to determine cytokine patterns in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni infected mice treated with silymarin. The study was conducted upon 100 mice that were divided into five groups; 20 each: uninfected control group, Schistosoma mansoni infected untreated mice (infected control), infected mice treated with praziquantel (PZQ), infected mice treated with silymarin and infected mice treated with both praziquantel and silymarin. 10 mice from each group were sacrificed at 10th and 18th weeks post infection respectively. Histopathological investigations were performed. Liver sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome stain to evaluate changes of granuloma sizes and numbers. Serum levels of the cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 and TGF-ß1) were assessed in the sera of all groups by immunoassay. The measured levels of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, TNF-α, TGF-ß1) were found to be significantly increased in infected mice compared to normal control. At the same time, treated groups with silymarin alone or combined with PZQ showed significant decrease in IL-4, TNF-α and TGF-ß1 levels compared to infected control. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in IFN-γ level observed in all treated groups compared to infected control. In addition, the histopathological examination of the liver in the group treated with PZQ showed a reduction in the number of livers eggs granuloma at all periods of sacrification compared with the infected untreated group. However, there was more decrease in granulomas diameter in both silymarin treated group or combined with PZQ at all periods of sacrification when compared to infected untreated group. In conclusion; treatment with silymarin combined with PZQ in murine schistosomiasis could reduce hepatic fibrosis by their action on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

COMPARISON OF IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHIC TEST AND MICROSCOPY IN THE DETECTION OF SOME ENTERIC PROTOZOA IN STOOL SAMPLES.

Infection with pathogenic intestinal protozoa. as Giardia lamblia,, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium parvum cause considerable gastrointestinal morbidity, malnutrition and mortality worldwide, especially among young children in developing countries. The present study was carried out on 71 cases (44 males & 27 females) chosen from Pediatric and Internal Medicine Inpatient and Outpatient Clinics of Zagazig University Hospitals, complaining of different gastrointestinal troubles with an age range of 6-60 years. Also, 20 apparently healthy individuals (11 males & 9 females) cross matched were considered as a control negative group. All stool samples were examined by direct wet smears, concentration techniques, staining of the smears using trichrome stain and Modified Ziehl-Neelsen method. Copro-antigen detection in faecal sample was by using quick immunochromatographic test. A total of 71 cases suffering from different GIT manifestations showed G. lamblia (30.7%), Cryptosporidium parvum (19.8%), EntamoebahistolyticalE. dispar (11%) and mixed infection of three protozoa (6.6%). However, by copro-antigen G. lamblia was positive in (31.8%) of C. parvum in (20.9%); E. histolytica/E. dispar in (11%) of cases. Immunochromatography/copro-antigen test recorded sensitivity and spec- ificity of (100%) and (96.6%) respectively in G. lamblia detection. For C. parvum, sensitivity was (100%) and specificity was (97.1%) while for E. histolytica/E. dispar. sensitivity and specificity were (100%) for both. Immunochromatographic assay proved to be simple, easy and useful in confirming absence or the presence of intestinal protozoan infection in clinically suspected cases with negative stool examination.