ROLE OF APOPTOSIS IN EXPERIMENTAL CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM INFECTED ALBINO MICE

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is one of the commonest opportunistic parasites. But, its chemotherapeuticoptions are limited, with controversy about the role of apoptosis in cryptosporidiosis. Caspasesare key molecules of apoptosis. The study assessed the role of apoptosis in cryptosporidiosisby studying the relationship between the effects of phenyl vinyl sulfone (PVS), nitazoxanide(NTZ) and combined therapy on Cryptosporidium parvum infection and caspase 3immunostaining. Ninety female laboratory bred Swiss Albino mice were divided into twomajor groups; immunocompetent and immunosuppressed. Both groups were divided into thefollowing subgroups, for each one respectively: negative control (1 & 6), infected control (2& 7), infected treated with PVS (3 & 8), infected treated with NTZ (4 & 9) and infected treatedcombined (5 & 10). Sacrification were done on 18th day post infection.Histopathological study of ileum was done and endogenous developmental stages werecounted. Also, caspase 3 immunohistochemical staining was carried out on ileal sections.Combined therapy in groups 5 &10 showed the highest reduction in mean number of endogenousdevelopmental stages as in G10 (P <0.05). Caspase expression in PVS treated groups (3& 8) showed significant decrease when compared to their control groups (P < 0.05). Whilethere were significant increase in caspase expression in groups treated with NTZ (4 & 9)when compared to their contorls (P < 0.05). Caspase 3 epithelial overexpression was evidentin infected immunocompetent G2 than immunosuppressed G7 (P<0.05).