Comparative parasitological and electron microscopic studies on the effects of Nitazoxanide and Praziquantel in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice

Hend A El-Taweel,Sahar A Abu Helw,Mohammad A Al-Kazzaz,Mona H El-Sayad

doi:10.14419/ijpt.v4i2.6822

Hend A El-Taweel, Sahar A Abu Helw + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.14419/ijpt.v4i2.6822

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Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate antischistosomal activity of Nitazoxanide (NTZ) in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice compared to Praziquantel (PZQ). Fifty four infected mice were recruited into 3 groups, each of 18 mice. Group 1 was infected non-treated control. Group 2 was infected and then treated with PZQ 500 mg for two days, and group 3 was infected and treated with NTZ 100 mg/kg for seven days. Efficacy of drugs was assessed by Parasitological, and scanning electron microscopic studies. PZQ reduced (4.9%, 22.5% and 50.7%) of faecal eggs, (22%, 22.6% and 55.1%) of intestinal eggs, (20.4%, 44.3% and 46.7%) of hepatic egg counts and (27%, 45.1% and 64.9%) of total worm load whereas, NTZ reduced (4.9%, 22.5% and 50.7%),of faecal eggs, (22%, 22.6% and 55.1%) of intestinal eggs ,(20.4%, 44.3% and 46.7%) of hepatic egg counts and (27%, 45.1% and 64.9%) of total worm load at 1, 2 and 4 WPT, respectively. The percentages of dead eggs were more than 80% after PZQ treatment and only 30% after NTZ at 4 WPT. PZQ showed extensive tegumental damages in male and female worms more than NTZ at 2 WPT. Our findings concluded that Nitazoxanide showed weaker antischistosomal activity in animal models than praziquantel.

Highlights

Schistosomiasis represents a major health problematic issue in tropical and subtropical areas, especially those with inadequate access to healthy drinking water and sanitation
Most of the proposed antischistosomal agents do not achieve the complete demolition of the musculature, tegument and suckers of the Schistosma mansoni worms. (Thibaut JPB et al 2009, Aires AL et al 2014) A recent trend in the discovery of a new antischistosomal agent is drug repositioning of the already available drugs for known and approved indication are assayed in vitro as well as in vivo against different Schistosoma spp. (Abdulla MH et al 2009, Cowan N and Keiser J 2015, Panic G et al 2015) to save the time and costs of preclinical toxicological evaluation and phase I clinical studies
16.75±0.89b 22.25±0.99b 30.50±0.71b 27.25±0.50b 34.25±1.02b 51.00±1.41b 56.00±0.35a 43.50±2.50b 18.50±0.71b. It is the first record of full parasitological parameters besides the electron microscopic ultastructural findings in the assessment of the antischistosomal property of Nitazoxanide in an animal model in comparison with the reference drug, Praziquantel

Summary

Introduction

Schistosomiasis represents a major health problematic issue in tropical and subtropical areas, especially those with inadequate access to healthy drinking water and sanitation. Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is a nitrothiazolide derivative structurally related to the anthelmintic and molluscicidal agent, niclosamide (Stockis A et al 2002) The anthelmintic activity was tested against cestodes (Rossignol JF and Maisonneuve H 1984, Stettler M et al 2003) as Taenia, Hymenolepis, Echinococcus, for trematodes as in Fasciola (Rossignol JF et al 1998, Favennec L et al 2003) and for nematodes (Abaza H et al 1998, Diaz E et al 2003) as in Ascaris, Trichuris and Strongyloides with promising results These advances prompted NTZ to be ranked as a broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug and eventually a broad-spectrum anti-parasitic drug (Fox LM and Saravolatz LD 2005) or even, may be added to "the WHO model list of essential drugs". One study demonstrated that NTZ administration in a schistosomiasis mansoni murine model decreased hepatic egg count by 34% and significantly improved liver and spleen pathology, no effect upon the worm burden could be observed. (Abdulla MH et al 2009)

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