Therapeutic Effect of Clindamycin and Tetracycline on Babesia rodhaini Infection in Mouse Model.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. In order to identify the alternative effective chemotherapeutic agents for murine babesiosis, some selected drugs were examined for their efficacy against protozoan infection in the mouse-Babesia rodhaini (B. rodhaini) model. Clindamycin was not completely effective for elimination of parasites in a dose of 50 mg or 100 mg/kg BW/day b.i.d. but effective to prolong the life span of hosts, while it completely cured B. rodhaini infections in a dose of 200 mg. On the other hand, a double therapy consisting of 2 treatments with 100 mg clindamycin and 100 mg clindamycin and with 100 mg clindamycin and 100 mg tetracycline; respectively, and a single therapy with 100 mg tetracycline or 200 mg clindamycin, had a possibility to clear away B. rodhaini organisms from hosts. However, almost all the treatment groups, had a relapse of the infection within 10 days post treatment or re-treatment. Cured mice by treatment with clindamycin and clindamycin, or clindamycin and tetracycline showed complete resistance against challenge with B. rodhaini, while mice cured by administration of clindamycin at 200 mg or tetracycline at 100 mg showed incomplete resistance to challenge infection. The present data suggest that the two former chemotherapies can induce effective protective immunity (premunization), but the latter two chemotherapies induce incomplete premunization.

Lymphocyte Subsets and Specific IgG Antibody Levels in Clindamycin-Treated and Untreated Dogs Experimentally Infected with Babesia gibsoni

“…While, lower humoral antibody responses in untreated dogs were observed, although relapses occurred. In our previous study, clindamycin treatment might induce resistance to challenge infection in cured mice from B. rodhaini-infection [21].…”

“…Clindamycin has been successfully used for the treatment of B. microti infection in hamsters and humans, and for the treatment B. canis infection in dogs [5,9,14,18]. Our previous studies indicated that clindamycin was successful for the treatment of B. rodhaini infection in mice, and might induce resistance to challenge infection in cured mice [21].…”

A Possible Treatment Strategy and Clinical Factors to Estimate the Treatment Response in Bebesia gibsoni Infection

“…However, a recent report showed the possible induction of drug resistant mutants of B. gibsoni against this treatment protocol [14,16]. Another candidate for anti-babesia therapy, clindamycin has also been evaluated in the fields of medicine and veterinary medicine [6,[24][25][26][27]. Clindamycin is one of the lincomycin antibiotics which has been shown to be effective against human babesiosis [25][26][27].…”

“…Another candidate for anti-babesia therapy, clindamycin has also been evaluated in the fields of medicine and veterinary medicine [6,[24][25][26][27]. Clindamycin is one of the lincomycin antibiotics which has been shown to be effective against human babesiosis [25][26][27]. However, it is suggested that treatment with clindamycin alone is not enough to eliminate the clinical symptoms and babesia in blood [25][26][27].…”

“…Clindamycin is one of the lincomycin antibiotics which has been shown to be effective against human babesiosis [25][26][27]. However, it is suggested that treatment with clindamycin alone is not enough to eliminate the clinical symptoms and babesia in blood [25][26][27]. Therefore other therapies, in addition to clindamycin, will be necessary to obtain a satisfactory anti-babesia effect.…”