Could miltefosine be used as a therapy for toxoplasmosis?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2015.06.005
• Publication Date: 2015-06-23T06:21:37Z
• Authors: Maha M. Eissa; Ashraf M.A. Barakat; Eglal I. Amer; Layla K. Younis
• Keywords: Infectious Encephalitis; 0301 basic medicine; Phosphorylcholine; Antiprotozoal Agents; Brain; 3. Good health; Survival Rate; Disease Models, Animal; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Liver; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Animals; Toxoplasma; Spleen

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoal disease affecting more than a billion people worldwide. The shortfalls of the current treatment options necessitate the development of non-toxic and well-tolerated, efficient alternatives especially against the cyst form. The current study was undertaken to investigate, for the first time, the potential potency of miltefosine against Toxoplasma gondii infection in acute and chronic experimental toxoplasmosis. Results showed that there is no evidence of anti-parasitic activity of miltefosine against T. gondii tachyzoites in acute experimental toxoplasmosis. However, anti-parasitic activity of miltefosine against T. gondii cyst stage in chronic experimental toxoplasmosis could not be excluded as demonstrated by significant reduction in brain cyst burden. Moreover, considerable morphological changes in the cysts were revealed by light and electron microscopy study and also by amelioration of pathological changes in the brain. Future studies should focus on enhancement of anti-toxoplasma activity of miltefosine against chronic toxoplasmosis using formulation based nanotechnology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study highlighting efficacy of miltefosine against chronic toxoplasmosis, thus, increasing the list of diseases that can be targeted by this drug.