Therapeutic efficacy of a cysteine proteases inhibitor (phenyl vinyl sulfone)‎ either alone or combined with nigella sativa on experimental cryptosporidiosis

Abstract EN

The present study evaluated the efficacy of a cysteine protease inhibitor (PVS) either alone or combined with Nigella sativa in treatment of cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed mice.

Seventy two mice were divided equally into eight groups: a normal control group (G1).

Other received dexamethasone to induce immunosuppression (G2) acted as a dexamethasone immunosuppressed control.

Six immunosuppressed groups were inoculated with infective dose of Cryptosporidum oocycts: (G3) infected control, (G4 and G5) treated with PVS alone in a dose of 50mg/kg and 100mg / kg respectively, (G6 and G7) treated with same dose of PVS and combined with NS 500mg/kg, and (G8) was treated with Paromomycin 250mg / kg.

Oocysts shedding were monitored from 2nd to 24th day post-infection.

After mice scarification, blood was assessed for hepatorenal drug toxicity.

Sections of ileum were subjected to histopathological examination.

Mice treated with PVS 100mg/kg combined with NS showed marked improvement with highest significant efficacy (P ≤0.01) diminished oocyst shedding in G6 and G7 by 91% & 94 % respectively, versus its efficacy when given alone in G4 and G5 by 83 % and 87 % respectively or when compared with paromomycin effect in G8 (81%).

PVS in different doses showed no toxic effect on hepatorenal parameters.