Study of potential role of miltefosine drug and Phoenix dactylifera plant extract against cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised mice

Abstract

Cryptosporidium infection can cause severe consequences in immunodeficient hosts, yet no effective drug therapy has been approved till now. Thus, it is increasingly necessary for evaluating new potential drugs against Cryptosporidium in immunocompromised patients. The strain of Cryptosporidium was identified using nested PCR and revealed C. parvum. The present work was carried out to evaluate the effect of miltefosine and aqueous extract of Phoenix dactylifera fruits against C. parvum in infected immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice. After oral infection with C. parvum oocysts, both treatments were given for 21 days. The highest percentages of reduction in the number of C. parvum oocysts were in the groups receiving aqueous extract of P. dactylifera, while miltefosine was less effective in reducing oocysts. Histopathological examination and electron microscopic examination revealed partial healing of the lining epithelium of the intestine after miltefosine treatment,

iv while complete healing of intestinal mucosa after treatment by aqueous extract of P. dactylifera fruits.