Antigiardial Effect of Kramecyne in Experimental Giardiasis

Abstract

A variety of drugs are used in giardiasis treatment with different levels of efficiency, presence of side effects, and even formation of resistant strains, so that it is important to search new only-one-dose treatments with high efficiency and less side effects. Kramecyne, an anti-inflammatory compound isolated from methanolic extract of Krameria cytisoides, does not present toxicity, even at doses of 5,000 mg/kg. The objective was to determine the antigiardial effect of kramecyne over Giardia intestinalis in vitro and in vivo and analyze the expression of genes ERK1, ERK2, and AK on kramecyne treated trophozoites by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). The median lethal dose (LD50) was 40 μg/mL and no morphological changes were observed by staining with blue trypan and light microscopy; experimental gerbil infection was eliminated with 320 μg/Kg of weight. After treatment there were no differences between intestines from treated and untreated gerbils. Kramecyne did not have significant effect over ERK1 and AK, but there are differences in ERK2 expression (p = 0.04). Results show antigiardial activity of kramecyne; however the mode of action is still unclear and the evaluation of ultrastructural damage and expressed proteins is an alternative of study to understand the action mechanism.

Preventive role of probiotic bacteria against gastrointestinal diseases in mice caused by Giardia lamblia

“…Giardia, Giardia lamblia , causing giardiasis, is the most frequent parasite reported in children and the most frequently found protozoan in water samples [ 1 , 2 ]. It primarily affects children and the immunosuppressed and exists in two interconvertible forms: cyst and trophozoite.…”

Identification of Sarcocystis spp. in Slaughtered Sheep from Spain and Evaluation of Bradyzoite Viability after Freezing

“…To avoid using laboratory animals, vital stains can be a good alternative for assessing parasite viability. Trypan blue staining has been used to evaluate the viability of parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], Trichomonas vaginalis [ 21 ], Eimeria tenella [ 22 ], Giardia intestinalis [ 23 ], Schistosoma haematobium [ 24 ], and Taenia pisiformis [ 25 ]. In the case of Sarcocystis , several studies have been conducted on S. sybillensis and S. wapiti in deer meat ( Cervus elaphus ); S. fayeri , S. hominis , S. cruzi , S. hirsuta , and S. bovini in horse ( Equus ferus caballus ) and beef ( Bos taurus ); and S. sinensis in water buffalo meat ( Bubalus bubalis ) [ 16 , 26 , 27 ].…”