title: Activity of azithromycin against cryptosporidia in immunosuppressed rats.
abstract: Dexamethasone-immunosuppressed rats infected with Cryptosporidium parvum were used to assess the macrolides azithromycin and spiramycin for anticryptosporidial activity. Azithromycin consistently prevented ileal infection, while spiramycin was ineffective. The anticryptosporidial activity of azithromycin was dose-related, 200 mg/kg/day being the minimum dose that prevented infection. Therapeutically, azithromycin eliminated an established overt infection of the small intestine in immunosuppressed rats, but the infection recurred after azithromycin treatment was stopped. These findings suggest that azithromycin is a potentially useful anticryptosporidial agent and that long-term continuous administration may be necessary to treat cryptosporidiosis in the immunocompromised host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38101.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rehg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017963:Azithromycin; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007082:Ileum / Q000469:parasitology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015572:Spiramycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004917:Erythromycin; D015572:Spiramycin; D017963:Azithromycin