Prophylactic and Therapeutic Treatments' Effect of Moringa Oleifera Methanol Extract on Cryptosporidium Infection in Immunosuppressed Mice

What is it about?

Cryptosporidium is an enteric protozoan parasite that is able to infect and reproduce in the epithelial cell lining of the small intestine. Human infection occurs through ingestion of contaminated water or food with Cryptosporidium oocyst; the infective stage [1,2]. In immunocompetent individuals, human cryptosporidiosis typically presents with a self-limiting watery diarrhea for several days resulting from the increased intestinal permeability, chloride secretion, and malabsorption that caused by the host response to infection. However, life-threatening diarrhea can occur in immunosuppressed patients, particularly those with HIV infection. Considering the antiparasitic properties of M. oleifera and its extensive anti-infective use in Egypt, this study assessed the prophylactic and therapeutic treatments' effect of M. oleifera methanol extract on immunosuppressed-infected Cryptosporidium mice.

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Why is it important?

Nitazoxanide is the only proven anti-Cryptosporidium therapy. This drug has been shown to improve diarrhea and mortality rates among infected, malnourished children. However, its response rate in malnourished children was only 56% and it is not effective in AIDS and transplant patients. This limitation of treatment options represents a major public health challenge given the important burden of cryptosporidiosis. Based on the results of this study, M. oleifera leaves extract possess significant prophylactic and therapeutic effects against cryptosporidiosis.