Efficacy of azithromycin in a murine toxoplasmosis model, employing a Toxoplasma gondii strain from Turkey
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Date
2003
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Abstract
A murine toxoplasmosis model with Balb/C mice was used to investigate the therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of azithromycin in a native strain of Toxoplasma gondii. Initially, seven groups - four studies and three controls - were established and 103 tachyzoites of this native strain of T. gondii were injected intraperitoneally to the mice in groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. Azithromycin was given to groups 1-4 at different times of infection orally between 100 and 300 mg/kg/day for 10 days. Azithromycin was found to be effective at 200 mg/kg/day and above in the prophylaxis, at 250 mg/kg/day and above in the treatment of toxoplasmosis. These results suggest that azithromycin is effective in the prophylaxis and early infection of a highly virulent strain of T. gondii, and it doubled the survival time in the late infection. Azithromycin could be an alternative treatment regimen for human toxoplasmosis, if supported by further clinical investigations. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Turkey , Murinae , Toxoplasma gondii , azithromycin , disease control , animal experiment , animal model , animal tissue , article , controlled study , drug efficacy , infection prevention , injection , male , model , mouse , mouse strain , native species , nonhuman , survival time , Toxoplasma gondii , toxoplasmosis , Turkey (republic)