Evaluation of the role of combined prebiotic and probiotic supplements as prophylactic and therapeutic agents against experimental giardiasis | ||
| Parasitologists United Journal | ||
| Article 12, Volume 14, Issue 2, August 2021, Pages 193-203 PDF (1.02 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/puj.2021.83828.1124 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Yasmeen Shaaban1; Zeinab Hassan* 1; Rafiaa Hussein1; Aisha Hassan1; Doaa Salama2 | ||
| 1Departments of Parasitology ,Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt | ||
| 2Departments of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Giardiasis is considered as one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal parasitic infections worldwide. Most of the used anti-Giardia drugs may cause side effects and are often associated with clinical failure and drug resistance. Prebiotic and probiotic therapy has been posited as potential natural therapeutic agent for many parasitic diseases. Objective: To evaluate the effect of combined prebiotic and probiotic therapy as a natural supplement and after addition to nitazoxanide (NTZ) in treatment of giardiasis in murine model. Material and Methods: Ninety-six laboratory bred Swiss albino male mice were used. Mice were divided into three main groups that included 16 subgroups (6 mice each). Control group (A1-7) included control negative (non-infected non-treated), control positive (infected non-treated), and another five control subgroups (SGs) that received natural prebiotic and probiotic supplements and NTZ. Prophylactic group (B) included three SGs in which infected mice received prebiotic and probiotic separately and in combination for one week before infection and continued till the end of experiment. Infected treated group (C1-6) composed of six infected SGs that received treatment by prebiotic and probiotic separately, and combined prebiotic/probiotic, NTZ alone (full dose), and after addition of combined supplement to NTZ (half or full dose). Evaluation was achieved using parasitological, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and immunological parameters. Results: There was significant reduction of Giardia cyst shedding in all prophylactic and infected treated SGs. The highest mean cyst reduction was observed in group C after addition of combined supplement to NTZ post infection (PI) and in group B receiving prophylactic combined supplement. Remarkable improvement of histopathological findings was observed especially in group C after receiving combined supplement in addition to NTZ, followed by other prophylactic and infected treated SGs. The results of immunohistochemical caspase 3 expression revealed that combined supplement was effective in preventing apoptotic cell death of intestinal cells that is induced by giardiasis especially after addition of combined supplement to NTZ in group C. Immunological assessment of interleukin-6 (IL-6) level showed significant increase in all treated SGs with boosted elevation in combined supplement after addition to NTZ in group C. Conclusion: Combined prebiotic and probiotic products can be considered as good prophylactic and therapeutic agents when added to NTZ against giardiasis. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| caspase 3; giardiasis; interleukin 6; murine; nitazoxanide; prebiotic; probiotic | ||
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