Toxoplasma encephalitis: influence of the vehicle on the efficacy of different doses of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine in mice

• Main Authors: Gherardi A., Sarciron M.E., Peyron F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2000-03-01
• Series: Parasite
• Subjects: Toxoplasma gondii; toxoplasmosis; 2',3'-dideoxyinosine; mice; vehicle
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2000071039
• ISSN: 1252-607X; 1776-1042

In this study we investigated the effect of the antiretroviral molecule 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (Videx®) against cerebral cysts in a murine model of toxoplasmic encephalitis caused by a wild cystic strain of Toxoplasma gondii. The role of the vehicle was also studied. Three doses were used: 50 , 100 and 150 mg/kg of body weight/day. The doses of 50 and 150 mg/kg were prepared by dissolving pure 2',3'-dideoxyinosine powder in Maalox® suspension before gavaging the mice; the dose of 100 mg/kg was prepared by grinding tablets of Videx® that were suspended in water. A decrease in the number of cysts and a morphological modification of them were noted from day 15 with the lowest dose. The most important decrease could be observed with the dose of 100 mg/kg/d. After 30 days of treatment with this dose, 65% of the cysts were destroyed compared to controls. For the doses of 50 and 150 mg/kg/d prepared with Maalox®, 36 % and 51 % of the cysts were destroyed respectively. So ddl has an effect on the cerebral cysts of T. gondii even at a low dose. The galenic formulation influences its action since the doses prepared with Maalox® were less efficient than those prepared from ground tablets.