In vitro and in vivo activity of aurintricarboxylic acid preparations against Cryptosporidium parvum.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of commercial aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) against Cryptosporidium parvum.


METHODS
The anticryptosporidial effect of ATA was evaluated in vitro using cell culture and double fluorogenic staining, and in vivo in experimentally infected neonatal C57BL/6 mice. Mice were orally treated for 9 consecutive days starting on the day of infection with daily ATA doses of 50 and 100 micromol/kg. Paromomycin (100 mg/kg) was used as a positive control.


RESULTS
In both in vitro models, ATA at concentrations of 100 and 10 micromol/L completely inhibited sporozoites within 10 and 60 min, respectively. Viability of oocysts exposed to 100 micromol/L and assessed by flow cytometry and in cell culture was reduced by 65% and 61%, respectively. The treatment of neonatal mice with a daily ATA dose of 100 micromol/kg led to 97-99% inhibition of infection without any observable negative effects on the animals. In comparison, the mean reduction of infection for paromomycin was 79-84%.


CONCLUSIONS
ATA exerted high anticryptosporidial activity and should be considered for further study.
Klein
Pavel
P
Institute of Animal Science, Praha 10, Uhrineves, Czech Republic. pavel.klein@seznam.cz
Cirioni
Oscar
O
Giacometti
Andrea
A
Scalise
Giorgio
G
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001312:Aurintricarboxylic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D001312:Aurintricarboxylic Acid