Assessment of therapeutic and immunomodulatory effect of ivermectin and ivermectin loaded nano-metal organic frameworks on cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed mice: an experimental study

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Mostafa R.R.; Fahmy Z.H.; Abdelhameed R.M.; Atta S.A.; Helal N.S.; Eissa F.M.A.

Journal: Journal of Parasitic Diseases

Publisher: Springer

Publication Date: 2026-08-11

ISSN: 9717196

DOI: 10.1007/s12639-026-01987-4

Scopus: View article on Scopus

Document Type: Article


Authors and Affiliations

Mostafa R.R., Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Fahmy Z.H., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Abdelhameed R.M., Department of Applied Organic Chemistry, Chemical Industry Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; Atta S.A., Department of Immunology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt; Helal N.S., Department of Pathology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Eissa F.M.A., Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The present study was carried out to assess the therapeutic effect of Ivermectin (IVM) and Ivermectin loaded Nano-metal organic frameworks (IVM loaded Nano-MOFs) on experimental Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) infection. It was conducted on 30 male albino mice, laboratory bred in Theodore Bilharz Research Institute. The mice were divided into 5 main groups (6 mice in each), infected non treated group, infected treated with Nitazoxanide (NTZ), infected treated with IVM, infected treated with IVM loaded Nano-MOFs single dose and infected treated IVM loaded Nano-MOFs five doses. The percentage of reduction in number of oocysts per gram stool in NTZ treated group, IVM treated group, IVM loaded Nano-MOFs single dose treated group and IVM loaded Nano-MOFs five doses treated groups were 60.09%, 69.40%, 81.19% and 98.58% respectively. The results of all treated groups were statistically significant compared to the infected non treated group (P < 0.05). The percentage of reduction in the number of Cryptosporidium trophozoites in intestinal content was 60.79%, 75.26%, 89.54% and 97.14% respectively in all treated groups with statistically significant differences compared to the infected non treated group (P < 0.05). The findings of the histopathological analysis were consistent with the parasitological results. IVM loaded Nano-MOFs single dose and IVM loaded Nano-MOFs five doses treated groups showed almost restoration of the villous pattern with marked decrease of the inflammatory infiltrate, similar findings were observed in the liver tissue sections which revealed almost restoration of hepatic architecture. As regards immunohistochemical results: the IVM loaded Nano-MOFs five doses treated group showed the highest Mean ± SD of Bax expression in duodenal tissue (71.67 ± 7.53) and the liver sections (88.33 ± 4.08). This group also demonstrate the highest Mean ± SD of CD8 expression in duodenal tissue (80.00 ± 6.32) and in liver Sects. (50 ± 10.95). In addition to IVM-based treatment (IVM, IVM loaded Nano-MOFs one dose, and IVM loaded Nano-MOFs five doses) showed decrease in mean ± SD in IFN-γ and IL-4. © Indian Society for Parasitology 2026.

Keywords

Cryptosporidium parvum; Ivermectin; Nano- MOFs; Nitazoxanide

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 0


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