Azithromycin macrolids with a potent activity on chronic experimental toxopiasmosis

Objective: To assess the efficacy of Azithromycin, a macrolids antibiotic, againsst experimentallyinduced toxopiasmosis in marine modelDesign: Experimental study.Setting: Department of Microbiology, Nineveh College of Medicine, from October 2004 toNovember 2005.Results: The efficacy of Azithromycin against Toxoplasma gondii was examined in murinemodels of infection with a moderately virulent strain. Forty white Albino mice inoculated bymouth with 2x 10 cysts, 20 mice were treated with Azithromycin at dose of 250 mg/kg /day for90 days. Drug treatment was initiated 30 days after infection (chronic infection). Treatment withAzithromycin significantly enhanced survival and reduced the brain cyst burden as comparedwith untreated (control) group of mice. Since 80% of treated mice were cornp>letely cured fromtoxopiasmosis as their brain were free of Toxoplasma tissue cysts either microscopically or bybioassay.Conclusion: The results warrant clinical evaluation of Azithromycin in the treatment oftoxopiasmosis in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.