Introducing Miltefosine as an Anti-cryptosporidial Agent in Immunocompromised Mice

Cryptosporidiosis is a clinically significant opportunistic infection causing diarrhea especially among immunocompromised patients includes those with immunodeficiency syndrome and certain immunosuppressed patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients treated with drugs that suppress the immune system, and patients with autoimmune disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential antiparasitic effect of miltefosine, (a phospholipid drug used for the treatment of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis) in immunocompromised (Dexamethasone treated) mice infected with Cryptosporidium. Parasitological examination of feces for oocysts count was performed ten and twenty days after start of treatment. Histopathological examination of intestinal, liver and spleen sections was held. Results revealed no significant reduction in mean Cryptosporidium oocyst number detected in immunocompromised infected group ten days post treatment (1.44%). Twenty days post treatment showed statistical significant reduction (p<0.001) reaching (38.63 %) when compared to the mean oocysts counts of infected untreated immunosuppressed group of mice. Histopathological sections of small intestine, liver and spleen showed several degrees of inflammatory changes before treatment. In treated group with miltefosine no improvements of small intestinal photomicrographs were seen; in contrast, significant improvement was observed in liver and spleen histopathological sections. Ziehl–Neelsen acid-fast stain was originally undertaken for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts within intestinal mice tissue. In conclusion, oral administration of miltefosine in vivo showed moderate efficiency against cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised infected mice