Role of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in treatment of experimental cryptosporidiosis.

The therapeutic effect of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) as a lectin molecule either alone or with Nitazoxanide (NTZ) was evaluated experimentally on cryptosporidial infection using immunosuppressed mice. A total of 100 suckling albino mice were immunosuppressed and infected with 106 purified Cryptosporidium oocysts. The oocyst count in stool using modified Ziehl Neelsen technique on the days post infection (p.i), the histopathological examination of ileum sections and the IFN-Y serum level were assessed for the drug evaluation. The use of WGA alone or with NTZ showed significant reduction of excreted oocyst count started on day 7 (p.i) (p < 0.05) & (p < 0.01) respectively while the use of NTZ showed significant reduction (p < 0.05) started on day 10 (p.i) in comparison to control group. The combined therapy showed significant reduction (p < 0.01) in comparison to NTZ received group on days 7 and 10. The histopathological examination of mice received WGA alone or with NTZ showed increased inflammatory reaction and infiltrating inflammatory cells with multiple foci of enterocyte exfoliation along the villi. The IF N-Y serum level was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than control and NTZ received groups. In conclusior the combined therapy of NTZ and WGA showed earlier and better therapeutic effect against cryptosporidial infection. The results were critically discussed.