[PCR in evaluating the effect of allicin and its combination with SMZco on murine toxoplamosis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of allicin alone or combined with SMZco on murine toxoplasmosis by a specific, rapid, and sensitive PCR technique.


METHODS
147 mice were infected with 2 x 10(4) tachyzoites intraperitoneally and divided into 5 groups at random. Each group was divided into two sub-groups except an untreated group. One subgroup was used to get samples for PCR test and the other for observing the survival duration. The therapeutic grouping was as follows: group A, a combination of allicin and SMZco administered orally for 7 days and continued by allicin alone till 21 days; group B, the combination administered for 14 days and continued with allicin till 21 days; group C, allicin alone for 21 days; group D, SMZco alone for 7 days; group E, untreated control. The dosage was: SMZco 400 mg/(kg.d) and allicin 35 mg/(kg.d). PCR test was used to detect the parasites in samples of liver and blood from infected mice at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 days after infection.


RESULTS
Parasites were eliminated in the blood because no signal was seen in all the blood samples except for samples from group C at day 5 after infection. From day 10 after infection until the end of the experiment, no amplification of DNA was seen in all the samples. As for liver samples, signals were clear at day 5 post infection. From day 10 post infection till the day 50 post-infection, parasites were still detected, but the PCR products decreased significantly than that of day 5 post-infection. Result showed that a combination of SMZco with allicin provided a significant protection. SMZco alone was also effective, but allicin alone was not.


CONCLUSIONS
When SMZco is used in combination with allicin, a much higher efficacy is received in the treatment of acute murine toxoplasmosis.
Shan
Lian-yu
LY
Department of Parasitology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070.
Yang
Xiu-zhen
XZ
Liu
Pei-mei
PM
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004220:Disulfides; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004220:Disulfides; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C006452:allicin; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole