Susceptibility of Blastocystis hominis to monolaurine (Lauric acid), lactoferine (Lactobacillus acidophillus) and metronidazole: An in vitro and in vivo studies

Abstract

Blastocystis hominis is an unusual enteric protozoan of human and animals. Natural products are not only the basis for traditional or ethnic medicine, but also provides highly successful new regimen for human welfare. Meronidazole constitutes a mainstay and is also traditionally considered first line therapy for treatment of Blastocystosis. However, the therapy is complicated due to different dosages and regimens adopted and the unresponsiveness to all treatment. A lot of interest has been generated on the role of probiotic, coconut oil and its fatty acid (Lauric acid) on eradication of the parasite. This study, appraised the effect of monolaurine, lactoferine and metronidazole using different dose regimens on experimental Blastocystosis. Assessment of evaluation was performed by determining the number of oocysts/gm stool, number of vegetative forms and histopathological changes in the intestine, in addition to in vitro susceptibility and ultrastructural changes of B. hominis following incubation with the previous agents. Each hamster was infected orally by 10.000 oocysts. Three weeks later, animals were divided into 6 groups, a control group and five other groups according to the drug they received. Drugs were taken for 5 consecutive days. Two weeks later, scarification of animals was performed and occyst/gm stool and trophozoites in the intestine were counted. In vitro incubation of the parasite with Lactoferine (1000 and 2000 µg/ml), metronidazole (120 and 200 µg/ml) was counted at different time periods (1/2, 1 and 2 h). Parasite viability was assessed using eosin-brilliant cresyle blue exclusion test. Ultrastructural changes of B. hominis following incubation of drugs were studied using transmission electron microscope. This study adds to the fact that natural products can offer an alternative therapy to be used in place of or concurrently with conventional antimicrobials.