Azithromycin is able to control Toxoplasma gondii infection in human villous explants

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough Toxoplasma gondii infection is normally asymptomatic, severe cases of toxoplasmosis may occur in immunosuppressed patients or congenitally infected newborns. When a fetal infection is established, the recommended treatment is a combination of pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine and folinic acid (PSA). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of azithromycin to control T. gondii infection in human villous explants.MethodsCultures of third trimester human villous explants were infected with T. gondii and simultaneously treated with either PSA or azithromycin. Proliferation of T. gondii, as well as production of cytokines and hormones by chorionic villous explants, was analyzed.ResultsTreatment with either azithromycin or PSA was able to control T. gondii infection in villous explants. After azithromycin or PSA treatment, TNF-α, IL-17A or TGF-β1 levels secreted by infected villous explants did not present significant differences. However, PSA-treated villous explants had decreased levels of IL-10 and increased IL-12 levels, while treatment with azithromycin increased production of IL-6. Additionally, T. gondii-infected villous explants increased secretion of estradiol, progesterone and HCG + β, while treatments with azithromycin or PSA reduced secretion of these hormones concurrently with decrease of parasite load.ConclusionsIn conclusion, these results suggest that azithromycin may be defined as an effective alternative drug to control T. gondii infection at the fetal-maternal interface.

Copaifera spp. oleoresins impair Toxoplasma gondii infection in both human trophoblastic cells and human placental explants

“…In this context, our group showed that azithromycin treatment reduced the vertical transmission of T. gondii tachyzoites in pregnant Calomys callosus rodents and was able to control parasite infection in human trophoblastic cells (BeWo cells) 28,29 . Moreover, we demonstrated that azithromycin treatment promoted inhibition of proliferation of T. gondii Brazilian strains in human villous explants from the third trimester of pregnancy 30,31 . Also, our work with other compounds showed that both enrofloxacin and toltrazuril impairs T. gondii infection in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental models 32,33 .…”

Enrofloxacin and Toltrazuril Are Able to Reduce Toxoplasma gondii Growth in Human BeWo Trophoblastic Cells and Villous Explants from Human Third Trimester Pregnancy

“…Sections with 4 μm were placed on glass slides and subjected to immunohistochemical analysis (de Oliveira Gomes et al, 2011; Castro-Filice et al, 2014). Briefly, for antigenic retrieval, sections were covered with citric acid pH 6.0 for 5 min in a microwave.…”

Malaria endemicity and co-infection with tissue-dwelling parasites in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review

“…In several mono-infection studies, it has been established that T. gondii and Plasmodium parasites utilise similar cellular mechanisms and biochemical pathways for their nutrition, metabolism, pathology and immunomodulation [ 131 , 132 ]⁠. This might indicate that during co-infections the parasites will result in competitive establishment that may promote or hamper parasite pathogenicity, and foetal and birth outcomes during pregnancy [ 133 ]⁠, severity of anaemia and mortality [ 124 , 134 – 136 ], and severity of neurological and cerebral involvement [ 137 , 138 , 98 ]. Malaria and Toxoplasma parasites sequester in the placenta resulting in placental disc plate damage thus influencing foetal and pregnancy outcomes [ 139 ].…”