novel macrolide in mixed protozoal infection in immunosuppressed mice

ABSTRACT

As the number of immunocompromized patients is increasing, there will be an increasing need for a reliable therapy efficacious against the opportunistic intestinal protozoa. The present work aimed to study the efficacy of azithromycin as a single weapon directed against mixed intestinal protozoal infection induced in immunosuppressed mice. In the infected treated group of mice, there was a marked amelioration of the pathological changes provoked by the four parasites Cryptosporidia, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica. As long as the mice were receiving azithromycin, there was a significant reduction of all parasitic stages with the complete absence of spore forming protozoa. One week after the drug was stopped Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica stages were progressively reduced but oocysts of cryptosporidia and spores of Entercytozoon bieneusi reappeared in situ. Azithromycin therapy should be continued as long as the individual is immunosuppressed