Effect of the iron chelator deferoxamine on trichomonas vaginalis in vitro

ABSTRACT

The effect of 10 muMol, 15 muMol, 30 muMol and 60 muMol concentrations of deferoxamine [DFO], a clinically approved iron chelator, was determined on viability and multiplication of Trichomonas vaginalis grown in TYM axenic culture medium at 24 hours interval. DFO killed all T. vaginalis isolates with a minimum lethal concentration of 30 muMol after 48 hours culture incubation with the drug. A potent and persistent inhibitory effect of DFO on the parasite viability and multiplication was recorded throughout the study in a drug concentration and time exposure-dependent manner. Furthermore, this work studied the proteinase activity of T. vaginalis grown for 48 hours in DFO inoculated TYM medium and recorded a significant decrease by all drug concentrations applied. Different possible mechanisms of action of DFO against vaginalis and its possible use for treatment of trichomoniasis are discussed in this study