Novel insights on the therapeutic effect of levamisole on the chronic toxoplasmosis in mice model

Latent toxoplasmosis mostly reactivates which could result in acute encephalitis. Chronic toxoplasmosis treat-ments are severely constrained by Toxoplasma cyst resistance. Novel therapeutic approaches are therefore becoming more essential. In this study, the effects of levamisole (LEVA) and spiramycin on the early and late stages of experimental toxoplasmosis are investigated. Materials and methods: Seventy-five Me49 Toxoplasma gondii infected Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups; (GI): noninfected control group; (GII): infected untreated control group; (GIII): infected-LEVA treated group; (GIV): infected and received combination of spiramycin and LEVA and (GV): infected-spiramycin treated group. The impact was assessed through brain cyst count by Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) assay, histo-pathological study, and total blood counts. Results: The progression of chronic toxoplasmosis could only be partially controlled by using either levamisole or spiramycin as a separate drug. The combined spiramycin and levamisole treatment significantly decreased the burden of Toxoplasma brain cyst, increased IFN-gamma level, total blood parameters and improved the histopathological features especially at the late stage of infection. In conclusion: Levamisole effectively modulated Toxoplasma-induced immune responses, resulting in chronic toxoplasmosis remission. Further clinical trials will be needed to study the effect of these combination in HIV/ AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus) patients with toxoplasmosis.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of levamisole and spiramycin on the early and late stages of experimental toxoplasmosis. The results show that the combination of spiramycin and levamisole treatment significantly decreases the burden of Toxoplasma brain cyst, increases IFN-gamma level, and improves histopathological features. Levamisole effectively modulates Toxoplasma-induced immune responses, leading to remission of chronic toxoplasmosis.