The therapeutic effect of atovaquone and clindamycin on the reduction of tissue cysts of PRU strain of Toxoplasma gondii

Dalimi, Abolhossein; Zouei, Nima; Pirestani, Majid

doi:10.22092/ari.2025.367154.3352

The therapeutic effect of atovaquone and clindamycin on the reduction of tissue cysts of PRU strain of Toxoplasma gondii

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University

² Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University.

³ Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University

10.22092/ari.2025.367154.3352

Abstract

Despite recent advances in the treatment of cerebral toxoplasmosis, monitoring parasite load and treatment response is still challenging. In the present study, the effect of atovaquone (AT) and clindamycin (CL) alone and in combination on chronic cerebral toxoplasmosis caused by PRU strain of Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in BALB/c mice. BALB/c mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation of Toxoplasma gondii strain PRU brain cysts. Then, the mice were divided into five groups as follows: Group 1 included mice treated with 100 mg/kg of atovaquone (AT), group 2 included mice treated with 400 mg/kg per day of clindamycin, group 3 included mice treated with combination (AT+CL), group 4 included untreated infected mice as a positive control (PC) and group 5 included untreated uninfected mice as negative control (NC). After the completion of the treatment period, the effect of drugs in reducing or eliminating parasites in the brain was checked by counting the number of brain cysts. The results showed that although atovaquone and clindamycin did not completely remove the cysts from the brain tissue of mice, they significantly reduced the number of tissue cysts in the brain tissue of the treated mice compared to the untreated control group (PC) (P < 0.0001). Atovaquone had more anti-toxoplasmic effect than clindamycin and the difference between the two drugs was completely significant. In conclusion, considering the risks of infection with different strains of T. gondii, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of developing effective therapeutic interventions for toxoplasmosis.

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