title: In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial efficacy of nitazoxanide against Leishmania donovani.
abstract: Control of Leishmania infection relies primarily on chemotherapy, and the current drug available for treating leishmaniasis is limited. Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is a broad spectrum antiparasitic agent with activity against protozoa, nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes. In the present study, the in vitro antileishmanial efficacy of NTZ was evaluated by incubation of Leishmania donovani promastigotes with NTZ, indicating that NTZ can affect the ultrastructure of parasite promastigote and efficiently inhibit the parasite growth. Moreover, 200 microg/ml NTZ inhibited >90% of promastigotes growth, showing similar activity of the reference drug amphotericin B (P > 0.05). Therapeutic efficacy of NTZ against L. donovani-infected BALB/c mice demonstrated that oral NTZ produced a significant reduction of parasite burden in spleen and liver from L. donovani-infected mice, compared with the untreated mice (P < 0.05). These results indicated NTZ may be a novel therapeutic drug for leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Military Veterinary, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, 1068 Qinglong Road, Changchun, 130062, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Ruiyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Cuiping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yongkui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xing-Quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles; C041747:nitazoxanide