Efficacy of maslinic acid and fenbendazole on muscle larvae of Trichinella zimbabwensis in laboratory rats

Superb bio-effectiveness of Cobalt (II) phthalocyanine and Ag NPs adorned Sm-doped ZnO nanorods/cuttlefish bone to annihilate Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae and adult worms: In-vitro evaluation

Herein, innovative biocides are designed for the treatment of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae (ML) and adult worms. Samarium-doped ZnO nanorods (Sm-doped ZnO) are stabilized onto the laminar structure of cuttlefish bone (CB) matrix and adorned by either Ag NPs or cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) species. Physicochemical characteristics of such nanocomposites are scrutinised. Adorning of Sm-doped ZnO/CB with Ag NPs shortens rod-like shaped Sm-doped ZnO nanoparticles and accrues them, developing large-sized detached patches over CB moiety. Meanwhile, adorning of Sm-doped ZnO/CB by CoPc species degenerates CB lamellae forming semi-rounded platelets and encourages invading of Sm-doped ZnO nanorods deeply inside gallery spacings of CB. Both nanocomposites possess advanced parasiticidal activity, displaying quite intoxication for ML and adult worms (≥88% mortality) within an incubation period of <48 h at concentrations around 200 μg/ml. CoPc@Sm-doped ZnO/CB nanocomposite exhibits faster killing efficiency of adult worms than that of Ag@Sm-doped ZnO/CB at a concentration of ∼75 μg/ml showing entire destruction of parasite after 24 h incubation with the former nanocomposite and just 60% worm mortality after 36 h exposure to the later one. Morphological studies of the treated ML and adult worms show that CoPc@Sm-doped ZnO/CB exhibits a destructive impact on the parasite body, creating featureless and sloughed fragments enriched with intensive vacuoles. Hybridization of cuttlefish bone lamellae by CoPc species is considered a springboard for fabrication of futuristic aggressive drugs against various food- and water-borne parasites.

Nematocidal activity of chitosan nanoparticles conjugated with albendazole against the enteral and parenteral phases of trichinosis in experimentally infected mice

Trichinosis is a serious parasitic zoonotic disease caused mainly by Trichinella spiralis. The used drugs for treatment of trichinosis showed limited bioavailability and high degree of resistance. Moreover, they have a very poor effect in treatment of encysted larvae. Therefore, there is a need for development of new agents which help in improving the bioavailability of the used drugs and enable them to reach different tissues. This study was designed to assess the use of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) in conjugation with full and half dose albendazole (ABZ) in treatment of intestinal and muscular trichinosis. Albino mice (84 mice) were used to evaluate the efficacy of drugs and divided into seven groups; I: control, II: ABZ (50 mg/kg) treated, III: ABZ (25 mg/kg) treated, IV: ABZ (50 mg/kg) conjugated CSNPs treated, V: ABZ (25 mg/kg) conjugated CSNPs treated, VI: CS treated and VII: CSNPs treated. Parasitological and histopathological examinations were used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the used drugs. Results showed significant reduction of adult Trichinella extracted from intestine of all ABZ treated groups either conjugated or not with the highest reduction rate in group IV followed by group V with percentage of reduction of 99.33% and 98.11%, respectively and marked improvement of histopathological examination. Also, results showed significant reduction of Trichinella larvae extracted from muscles of group IV, V and VII with the highest reduction rate in group IV with percentage of reduction of 100% in muscle larvae and marked improvement of histopathological examination. It was concluded that albendazole full dose conjugated chitosan nanoparticles can be a good candidate drug for treating both intestinal and muscular trichinosis.

Appraisal of Chitosan-Coated Lipid Nano-Combination with Miltefosine and Albendazole in the Treatment of Murine Trichinellosis: Experimental Study with Evaluation of Immunological and Immunohistochemical Parameters

PURPOSE

Resistance and adverse consequences of albendazole (ABZ) in treating trichinellosis urged demand for secure and effective new drugs. The current study aimed to assess the effect of chitosan-coated lipid nano-combination with albendazole and miltefosine (MFS) in treating experimental murine trichinellosis and evaluating pathological and immunological changes of trichinellosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred twenty Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups. Each group was subdivided into a and b subgroups based on the scarification time, which was 7- and 40-days post-infection (PI), respectively. The treatment efficacy was evaluated using parasitological, histopathological, serological (interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-4 serum levels), immunohistochemical (GATA3, glutathione peroxidase1 (GPX1) and caspase-3), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods.

RESULTS

The most effective drug was nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with ABZ (G5), which showed the most significant reduction in adults and larval count (100% and 92.39%, respectively). The greatest amelioration in histopathological changes was reported in G4 treated with MFS. GATA3 and caspase-3 were significantly reduced in all treated groups. GPX1 was significantly increased in G6 treated with MFS + NLCs. The highest degenerative effects on adults and larvae by SEM were documented in G6.

CONCLUSION

Loading ABZ or MFS on chitosan-coated NLCs enhanced their efficacy against trichinellosis. Although ABZ was better than MFS, their combination should be considered as MFS caused a significant reduction in the intensity of infection. Furthermore, MFS showed anti-inflammatory (↓GATA3) and antiapoptotic effects (↓caspase-3), especially in the muscular phase. Also, when loaded with NLCS, it showed an antioxidant effect (↑GPX1).

Chemokine, cytokine and haematological profiles in Sprague-Dawley rats co-infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and Trichinella zimbabwensis-A laboratory animal model for malaria and tissue-dwelling nematodes co-infection

Malaria remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and tissue-dwelling helminth parasites (TDHPs) are also prevalent in this region presenting a geographical overlap in endemicity. There is paucity of information on the specific host immune responses elicited at different phases of the life cycle by the co-infecting helminth parasites. This study aimed at using a laboratory animal model to determine selected chemokine, cytokine and hematological profiles in Sprague-Dawley rats co-infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (Pb) and a tissue-dwelling nematode, Trichinella zimbabwensis (Tz). One-hundred-and-sixty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (90–150g) were randomly divided into four experimental groups; Control (n = 42), Pb-infected (n = 42), Tz-infected (n = 42) and Pb + Tz-infected group (n = 42). Trichinella zimbabwensis infection (3 muscle larvae/g body weight per os) was done on day 0 while intra-peritoneal Pb infection (10⁵ parasitised RBCs) was done at day 28 of the 42-day experimental study for the co-infection group which corresponded with day 0 of the Pb group on the protocol. Haematological parameters, cytokines (TNF-α, IL-10, IL-4, IL-6), chemokines (CXCL10, CCL5, CCL11) and burden of Tz adult worms and muscle larvae burden were determined as per need for each group. Results showed that Tz infection predisposed the co-infected animals towards rapid development of Pb parasitaemia during co-infection, reaching a higher peak percentage parasitaemia at day 7 post-infection than the Pb mono-infected group at day 6 post-infection. Animals in the co-infected group also exhibited severe anaemia, basophilia, neutrophilia, eosinophilia and lymphopenia at day 7 post Pb infection compared to the control groups. Significant elevation of Pb parasitaemia coincided with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α (P < 0.001), regulatory anti-inflammatory IL-10 (P < 0.001), and pro-inflammatory chemokines CXCL10 (P < 0.001) concentration in comparison to control group, at day 7 post Pb infection. Our results confirm that co-infection of Pb with Tz resulted in increased Pb parasitaemia compared to the control group in the early stages of infection and this might translate to severe malaria.

Novel Oleanolic and Maslinic Acid Derivatives as a Promising Treatment against Bacterial Biofilm in Nosocomial Infections: An in Vitro and in Vivo Study

Oleanolic acid (OA) and maslinic acid (MA) are pentacyclic triterpenic compounds that abound in industrial olive oil waste. These compounds have renowned antimicrobial properties and lack cytotoxicity in eukaryotic cells as well as resistance mechanisms in bacteria. Despite these advantages, their antimicrobial activity has only been tested in vitro, and derivatives improving this activity have not been reported. In this work, a set of 14 OA and MA C-28 amide derivatives have been synthesized. Two of these derivatives, MA-HDA and OA-HDA, increase the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the parent compounds while reducing their toxicity in most of the Gram-positive bacteria tested, including a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-MRSA. MA-HDA also shows an enhanced in vivo efficacy in a Galleria mellonella invertebrate animal model of infection. A preliminary attempt to elucidate their mechanism of action revealed that these compounds are able to penetrate and damage the bacterial cell membrane. More significantly, their capacity to reduce antibiofilm formation in catheters has also been demonstrated in two sets of conditions: a static and a more challenged continuous-flow S. aureus biofilm.

Nitazoxanide anthelmintic activity against the enteral and parenteral phases of trichinellosis in experimentally infected rats

Most of the drugs used for the treatment of trichinellosis show a limited bioavailability and a high degree of resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the anthelmintic potential activity of nitazoxanide (NTZ) in a rat model of experimental trichinellosis. Animals were divided into three groups; group I, infected and non-treated; group II, received NTZ for three days post-infection (dpi) and group III, received NTZ 30 dpi for 14 consecutive days. Treatment efficacy was assessed by Trichinella spiralis adult and larval counts, histopathological studies of the small intestine and muscles and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in the small intestine. T. spiralis adult count was reduced in NTZ -treated group (66.6%) and the larval count decreased to 68.7 and 76.7% in the early and late treatment, respectively. The infected non-treated rats showed massive inflammatory cellular infiltration in the small intestines and muscles. This inflammatory response was minor in the treated groups and was accompanied by a decrease in iNOS expression. Moreover, in group III, the larvae were replaced by homogenized substance with some destructive changes in the capsule. In conclusion, NTZ showed a promising activity against enteral and more effect in parenteral phases of trichinellosis.

A systematic review of pentacyclic triterpenes and their derivatives as chemotherapeutic agents against tropical parasitic diseases

Parasitic infections are among the leading global public health problems with very high economic and mortality burdens. Unfortunately, the available treatment drugs are beset with side effects and continuous parasite drug resistance is being reported. However, new findings reveal more promising compounds especially of plant origin. Among the promising leads are the pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) made up of the oleanane, ursane, taraxastane, lupane and hopane types. This paper reviews the literature published from 1985 to date on the in vitro and in vivo anti-parasitic potency of this class of phytochemicals. Of the 191 natural and synthetic PT reported, 85 have shown high anti-parasitic activity against various species belonging to the genera of Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, as well as various genera of Nematoda. Moreover, structural modification especially at carbon 3 (C3) and C27 of the parent backbone of PT has led to improved anti-parasitic activity in some cases and loss of activity in others. The potential of this group of compounds as future alternatives in the treatment of parasitic diseases is discussed. It is hoped that the information presented herein will contribute to the full exploration of this promising group of compounds as possible drugs for parasitic diseases.