ASSESSMENT OF POSSIBLE SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF BISPHOSPHONATES AND STATINS IN MURINE EXPERIMENTAL TOXOPLASMOSIS GONDII

Authors

1 Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University

2 Department of Medical Parasitology, Theodore Bilharz Research Institute

Abstract

This open new horizons for drug repositioning to standard used drugs in treatment of acute
toxoplasmosis. This study was conducted on 70 male Albino mice in Theodore Bilharz Research
Institute (TBRI) to evaluate the possible synergistic effect of risedronate sodium (Bisphosphonates)
combination with atorvastatin (statins) on acute Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain)
infected mice versus the drug spiramycin (macrolides). Drug combination was used in
two doses: the first combined dosage was 0.01mg/kg/day risedronate sodium and 1.25mg/kg/
day atorvastatin (G B+S1) and the second one was 0.2mg/kg/day risedronate sodium and 20
mg/kg/day atorvastatin (G B+S2) and each drug of them was also used alone at a dose of 0.4
mg/kg/day for risedronate sodium (G B) and 40mg/kg/day for atorvastatin (G S) in comparison
to spiramycin (G M) which was used at a dose of 200mg/kg/day.
Microscopy examination by Giemsa stained of peritoneal exudate from T. gondii infected
mice showed reduction in number of Toxoplasma tachyzoites to 86.28% on the 5th day post
infection (G B+S1), 98.35% in (G B+S2), 98.27% in (G B) and 85.03% in (G S) and spiramycin
treated mice with reduction of 93.66%. Histopathological examination of liver sections
collected from infected mice showed remarked significant improvement in mice treated with
combined of risedronate sodium and atorvastatin.

Keywords