The Therapeutic Effects of Atovaquone and Clindamycin on the Reduction of Tissue Cysts of the PRU Strain of Toxoplasma gondii

Introduction: Despite recent advances in the treatment of cerebral toxoplasmosis, monitoring parasite load and treatment response is still challenging. In the present study, the effect of atovaquone (AT) and clindamycin (CL), alone and in combination, on chronic cerebral toxoplasmosis caused by the PRU strain of Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in BALB/c mice. Materials & Methods: BALB/c mice aged ۶ to ۸ weeks were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation of brain cysts of the PRU strain of T. gondii. Then, the mice were divided into five groups as follows: Group ۱ included mice treated with ۱۰۰ mg/kg of AT, group ۲ included mice treated with ۴۰۰ mg/kg per day of CL, group ۳ included mice treated with the combination (AT+CL), group ۴ included untreated, infected mice as a positive control (PC), and group ۵ included untreated, uninfected mice as a negative control (NC). After the completion of the treatment period, the effect of the drugs in reducing or eliminating parasites in the brain was evaluated by counting the number of brain cysts. Results: The results showed that although AT and CL did not completely remove the cysts from the brain tissue of mice, they significantly reduced the number of tissue cysts in the brain tissue of the treated mice compared to the untreated control group (PC) (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). AT had a greater anti-toxoplasmic effect than CL, and the difference between the two drugs was highly significant.Conclusion: In conclusion, considering the risks of infection with different strains of T. gondii, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of developing effective therapeutic interventions for toxoplasmosis.

کلیدواژه ها:

Atovaquone (AT) ، cerebral toxoplasmosis ، Clindamycin (CL) ، PRU strain ، Toxoplasma gondii