Long-lasting anticryptosporidial activity of nitazoxanide in an immunosuppressed rat model

Cryptosporidium parvum, Tyzzer, 1912 is identified as a common cause of diarrhoea in immunocompetent individuals. In immunocompromised, especially HIV-infected subjects, cryptosporidiosis causes severe chronic diarrhoea. In this study, nitazoxanide (NTZ) was compared for curative activity with sinefungin (SNF) and paromomycin (PRM) in immunosuppressed rats, a screening model for anticryptosporidial agents. NTZ at either 50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day or 200 mg/kg/day resulted in seven days in a dose-dependent inhibition of oocyst shedding similar to that obtained with SNF (10 mg/kg/day) and PRM (100 mg/kg/day). Further discontinuation of SNF or PRM 100 mg/kg/day therapy resulted in early relapse of oocyst shedding which reached the pre-treatment levels in 2-4 days. In contrast, seven days after discontinuation of therapy, shedding inhibition was unchanged in NTZ-treated rats. Data prompt further assessment of the activity of NTZ on sequestered C. parvum.