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Araújo JAA, Gomes TC, Lima VCN, Silva YBD, Lino Junior RDS, Vinaud MC. Oxfendazole Nitazoxanide combination in experimental neurocysticercosis - Anti-inflammatory and cysticidal effects. Exp Parasitol 2024; 262:108764. [PMID: 38677580 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. The complications of NCC include seizures, headaches, cognitive impairment, and focal neurological deficits. In addition to antiparasitic drugs and surgery, the management of NCC includes the use of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and control symptoms. The traditional treatment with albendazole and praziquantel has not been altered over 30 years and present several side effects. There are other anti-helminthic drugs such as oxfendazole and nitazoxanide that may show efficacy in NCC treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the histopathologic aspects of experimental NCC after in vivo treatment with the combination of oxfendazole and nitazoxanide. Balb/c mice were infected with T. crassiceps cysticerci and divided into groups of 10 animals each that received a single dose through gavage as follows: group treated with NaCl 0.9% (control group); group treated by monotherapy of the anti-helminthic drugs, 30 mg/kg in single dose of oxfendazole (OXF) or nitazoxanide (NTZ); and groups treated with the combination of the drugs (OXF/NTZ group). Macroscopic and microscopic analysis were performed. There was greater presence of final stage cysticerci after treatment. The microscopic analysis of the general pathological processes showed that the monotherapy with all treatment groups induced higher perivasculitis than what was observed in the control group. In contrast, the combination treatment showed a lower observation of PMN and MN inflammatory infiltration in comparison to the other treatments and to the control one. These results show that indeed the association of benzimidazole derivatives which present both anti-helminthic and anti-inflammatory properties with other cysticidal drugs are beneficial for the NCC treatment in which the aim is to destroy parasite without inducing inflammatory damage in the brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jefferson Aber Alves Araújo
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Taynara Cristina Gomes
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Cindy Neres Lima
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Yngrid Batista da Silva
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Ruy de Souza Lino Junior
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Marina Clare Vinaud
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil.
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da Silva Santana RC, Prudente TP, de Sousa Guerra CH, de Lima NF, de Souza Lino Junior R, Vinaud MC. Albendazole - Ivermectin combination decreases inflammation in experimental neurocysticercosis. Exp Parasitol 2023:108568. [PMID: 37327965 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a public health issue in endemic regions and is considered the main preventable cause of neurologic disease. It is caused by the presence of Taenia solium cysticercus in the central nervous system. The current treatment is performed with anthelminthic drugs - albendazole (ABZ) or praziquantel - associated with anti-inflammatory and corticosteroids in order to prevent the negative effects of the inflammatory reaction to the parasite's death. Ivermectin (IVM) is an anthelminthic drug that has been shown to present an anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of this study was to was to evaluate the histopathologic aspects of experimental NCC after in vivo treatment with a combination of ABZ-IVM. Balb/c mice were intracranially inoculated with T. crassiceps cysticerci and after 30 days of infection were treated with a single dose of NaCl 0.9% (control group), ABZ monotherapy (40 mg/kg), IVM monotherapy (0.2 mg/kg) or a combination of ABZ-IVM. 24h after the treatment the animals were euthanized and the brain was removed for histopathologic analysis. The IVM monotherapy and ABZ-IVM combination showed more degenerated cysticerci, less inflammatory infiltration, meningitis and hyperemia than the other groups. Therefore, it is possible to recommend the combination of albendazole and ivermectin as alternative chemotherapy for NCC due to its antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory effects, with potential to decrease the negative effects of the inflammatory burst when the parasite is killed within the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiago Paiva Prudente
- Medicine School, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil
| | | | - Nayana Ferreira de Lima
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Ruy de Souza Lino Junior
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Marina Clare Vinaud
- Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP: 74605-050, Brazil.
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de Andrade Picanço G, Ferreira de Lima N, Cristina Gomes T, de Sousa Mendes Moreira Alves D, Luísa da Costa T, Vinaud MC. Intraperitoneal and intracranial experimental cysticercosis present different metabolic preferences after treatment with isolated or combined albendazole and nitazoxanide. Acta Trop 2022; 226:106264. [PMID: 34919953 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cysticercosis is a zoonotic public health issue especially severe when the parasite is in the central nervous system although it may be found all over the human organism. Taenia crassiceps cysticerci inoculated in mice is the experimental model used to study cysticercosis. The most used cysticercosis treatment is with albendazole (ABZ). Nitazoxanide (NTZ) has been experimentally tested against this parasite. Metabolic analysis has been used to determine drugs impact on the parasite. The aim of this study was to determine the in vivo metabolic impact of the ABZ-NTZ combination in T. crassiceps cysticerci inoculated in mice peritoneal and intracranial cavities. Mice were experimentally inoculated with T. crassiceps cysticerci in the intraperitoneal cavity or in the intracranial one. Thirty days after the infection they were treated with NaCl 0.9% (control group), 50 mg/kg of ABZ, 50 mg/kg of NTZ or 50 mg/kg of NTZ and ABZ (ABZ/NTZ combination). 24 h after treatment the animals were euthanized and the cysticerci analyzed through high performance chromatography and spectrophotometry in order to detect the glycolytic, mitochondrial and protein catabolism pathways. The intracranial parasites used more intensely the homolactic fermentation while the intraperitoneal ones presented a greater use of the mitochondrial pathways and protein catabolism. Regarding the glycolytic pathways, it was possible to observe a significant impact induced by the drugs used, both isolated or in combination. It was possible to detect an increase in the fumarate reductase pathway after the drugs exposure and no impact in the protein's catabolism. Therefore, the cysticerci showed different uses of metabolic pathways regarding the site of inoculation due to the availability of nutrients inherent of each environment. This study showed the parasite metabolic resilience and capability of use of different biochemical pathways in order to ensure survival in spite of a hostile environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guaraciara de Andrade Picanço
- Laboratory of studies of the host-parasite relationship, Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Goiania, Goias CEP 74605-050 Brazil
| | - Nayana Ferreira de Lima
- Laboratory of studies of the host-parasite relationship, Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Goiania, Goias CEP 74605-050 Brazil
| | - Taynara Cristina Gomes
- Laboratory of studies of the host-parasite relationship, Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Goiania, Goias CEP 74605-050 Brazil
| | - Daniella de Sousa Mendes Moreira Alves
- Laboratory of studies of the host-parasite relationship, Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Goiania, Goias CEP 74605-050 Brazil
| | - Tatiane Luísa da Costa
- Laboratory of studies of the host-parasite relationship, Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Goiania, Goias CEP 74605-050 Brazil
| | - Marina Clare Vinaud
- Laboratory of studies of the host-parasite relationship, Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Federal University of Goias, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Goiania, Goias CEP 74605-050 Brazil.
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Alterations in Taenia crassiceps cysticerci cytoskeleton induced by nitazoxanide and flubendazole. Acta Trop 2021; 221:106027. [PMID: 34216560 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cysticercosis is the presence of Taenia solium larval stage in tissues such as central nervous system, skin, muscles and eye globe. The current treatment is based on albendazole and praziquantel which already present resistance reports. Therefore, the search for alternative treatments is paramount. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of flubendazole and nitazoxanide on cytoskeleton proteins from Taenia crassiceps cysticerci, an experimental model for cysticercosis. Cysticerci were cultured in RPMI supplemented medium containing nitazoxanide and/or flubendazole. 24 h after the exposure the cysticerci were processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy and for protein analysis of the cytoskeleton. The proteins were detected through 1D electrophoresis and identified through Western Blot. Nitazoxanide exposure increased tubulin and actin quantifications in T. crassiceps cysticerci. While flubendazole alone and the drugs combinations induced an increase in α-tubulin and actin and decreased β-tubulin quantifications in the parasite. Morphological changes such as swelling and rupture of vesicle, stiff membrane, decrease in movements were observed when the cysticerci were incubated with the different compounds. In conclusion the drugs induced significative impact in the parasite`s cytoskeleton and may be considered as alternative treatments for cysticercosis.
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