Azithromycin macrolids with a potent activity on chronic experimental toxoplasmosis

Abstract EN

Objective : To assess the efficacy of Azithromycin, a macrolids antibiotic, against experimentally induced toxoplasmosis in murine miodel Design: Experimental study.

Setting : Department of Microbiology, Nineveh College of Medicine, from October 24 to November 2005.

Results : the efficacy of Azithromycin against Toxoplasma gondii was examined in murine models of infection with a moderately virulent strain.

Forty white Albino mice inoculated by mouth with 2 x 10 cysts, 20 mice were treated with Azithromycin at dose of 250 mg / kg /day for 90 days, drug treatment was initiated 30 days after infection (chronic infection).

Treatment with Azithromycin significantly enhanced survival and reduced the brain cyst burden as compared with untreated (control) group of mice.

Since 80% of treated mice were completely cured from toxoplasmosis as their brain were free of Toxoplasma tissue cysts either microscopically or by bioassay.