Modulation of haematological and pathological changes caused by toxoplasma gondii in an experimental model of chronic infection

ABSTRACT

Wide spectrum of pathologic patterns is encountered in T. gondii infection, ranging from trivial pathology to fatal disease. The study was done to evaluate the ability of some drug groups to reverse the pathological changes caused by T. gondii infection. This evaluation was done, in vivo, in a rat model of chronic infection parallel to that in human. Lung, liver and brain specimens were taken in definite time points respecting the kinetics of infection in that model. Blood counts were done to all groups to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of drugs. A new combination of dipyridamole/ allopurinol was able to significantly reduce the pathology in all organs to almost the baseline pathology of chronic Toxoplasma infection. The relatively moderate protective effect of pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine combination was undermined by the toxic effects evidenced by pathology and haematological parameters. Spiramycin, in spite of proving safe, yet its protective effective is relatively weak in all organs especially in the brain where it seems to offer no protection