In vitro and in vivo activity of aurintricarboxylic acid preparations against Cryptosporidium parvum.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of commercial aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) against Cryptosporidium parvum.

METHODS

The anticryptosporidial effect of ATA was evaluated in vitro using cell culture and double fluorogenic staining, and in vivo in experimentally infected neonatal C57BL/6 mice. Mice were orally treated for 9 consecutive days starting on the day of infection with daily ATA doses of 50 and 100 micromol/kg. Paromomycin (100 mg/kg) was used as a positive control.

RESULTS

In both in vitro models, ATA at concentrations of 100 and 10 micromol/L completely inhibited sporozoites within 10 and 60 min, respectively. Viability of oocysts exposed to 100 micromol/L and assessed by flow cytometry and in cell culture was reduced by 65% and 61%, respectively. The treatment of neonatal mice with a daily ATA dose of 100 micromol/kg led to 97-99% inhibition of infection without any observable negative effects on the animals. In comparison, the mean reduction of infection for paromomycin was 79-84%.

CONCLUSIONS

ATA exerted high anticryptosporidial activity and should be considered for further study.