Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Departments of Medical Parasitology , Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University , Cairo,
2
Departments of Medical Parasitology1, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University1, Cairo,
3
Theodor Bilharz Research Institute
4
Giza; Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre
5
Applied Organic Chemistry, Chemical Industries Research Institute , Giza; Egypt
6
Departments of Medical Parasitology , Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University
Abstract
Background: Since current therapies for toxoplasmosis are only effective against tachyzoites in acute
infections, and the occurrence of drug resistance, researches are directed to use natural products in the
treatment of chronic toxoplasmosis.
Objective: To investigate the potential efficacy of metal-organic framework (MOF) loaded coconut oil
(CO) and ginger oil (GO) nanoparticles (NPs) in the treatment of chronic murine toxoplasmosis.
Material and Methods: Ninety laboratory bred Swiss Albino mice were divided into 8 groups (10 mice
each); GI (negative control), GII (infected control), GIII-GVIII (infected with Me49 strain of T. gondii
and treated with MOFs-NPs, Spiramycin, Spiramycin loaded on MOFs-NPs, CO-MOF-NPs, GO-MOF-NPs,
and CO+GO-MOFs-NPs, respectively). Parameters used for evaluation included brain cyst count, tissue
pathology, and CD8+ infiltration of the liver.
Results: A statistically significant difference was observed in the number of brain cysts between all
infected groups receiving treatment, and GII; and GV showed the lowest count of brain cysts with a 60.8%
reduction. Histopathological examination showed that loading CO and GO separately or combined with
MOFs-NPs significantly restored the normal architecture of all examined tissues, i.e., brain, eye, liver, and
kidney. Using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, high-density CD8+ infiltration was recorded in the
liver section of both GI and GII. While GIII, GIV, and GVI displayed low-density CD8+ infiltration, GV, GVII,
and GVIII showed intermediate-density.
Conclusion: Loading on MOFs-NPs, CO, and GO offered promising phytotherapy against chronic
toxoplasmosis.
Keywords
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