Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease with worldwide distribution. Chitosan is a natural polymer which is commonly used in the production of nanomedicines. It is known to enable higher drug permeation, being biocompatible and has very low toxicity, besides its antimicrobial effects. Our study aimed to assess the effect of spiramycin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (SLCNs) in treatment of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in mice. 200 male Swiss albino mice were included in our study, divided to two main groups; RH strain infected group and ME49 strain infected group, each main group was subdivided into four subgroups; subgroup I: infected control, subgroup II: infected and received chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs); 20 µg of CS NPs in 100 µl of PBS/mouse/dose, subgroup III: infected and treated with spiramycin (Rovamycin); 100 mg/kg/day, subgroup IV: infected and treated with 100 mg/kg/day spiramycin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles. Effect of treatment was assessed parasitologically and histopathologically. It was noticed that SLCNs significantly decreased the mortality rate of infected mice with both strains compared to high mortality rate of mice in the infected control subgroups. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the number of organisms of SLCNs treated subgroup as compared to the other subgroups. Histopathological studies showed a marked improvement of the pathological pictures of brain, liver, spleen and eye in the subgroup received SLCNs as opposed to other groups. In conclusion, the present study revealed that loading of spiramycin on chitosan nanoparticles increased its antiparasitic effect on acute and chronic infection.

Background and study aim: The healthy diet must basically contain fresh fruits and vegetables. Contaminated vegetables and fruits consumption is a way of getting people infected with intestinal parasites. This study aimed to detect the parasitic contamination in some common fresh vegetables and fruits in Sharkyia Governorate, Egypt and the effect of potassium permanganate (24mg/L) and acetic acid 5% upon these parasites. Patients and Methods: The study examined 420 samples: lettuce, watercress, parsley, cucumber, carrots and strawberry. Their collection was done from some rural areas of Sharkyia governorate's markets. Samples were washed and the solution resulted from washing was filtered and centrifuged to concentrate the parasitic stages. Sediments and supernatants were microscopically examined using iodine and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears. Then the positive samples were soaked separately in acetic acid 5% and potassium permanganate 24ml/L for 15 and 30 minutes. Then they were tested by 0.2% trypan blue stain to detect the viability of parasites. Results: The parasites were determined in 164/420 (39%) samples. Giardia lamblia cysts were the most prevalent parasite (12.6%) followed by Cryptosporidium spp.oocysts (7.6%), Entamoeba spp. cysts (6.2%), Blastocystis hominis cysts (3.8%), Hymenolepis nana eggs (2.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides eggs (1.9%), various helminths larvae (1.6%), Enterobius vermicularis eggs (1.4%) and Balantidium coli cysts (0.9%). The highest contaminated one was watercress (55.7%) followed by lettuce (45.7%), parsley (44.2%), cucumber (31.4%), strawberry (30%) and carrots (27.1%). There was a reduction in the viability of the parasites after exposure to acetic acid 5% and potassium permanganate 24mg/L but the statistical difference between the percentages was insignificant. Conclusion: The results of the study emphasized a possible role of contaminated raw vegetables and fruits in the spread of parasitic diseases in Sharkyia governorate, Egypt. Acetic acid 5% and potassium permanganate 24ml/L are considered effective disinfectants to reduce parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables and fruits.

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