spelaea () is a free-living amoeba, proved to cause like keratitis with quite difficult treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the amoebicidal effect of () on trophozoites and cysts both in vitro and in vivo using Chinchilla rabbits as an experimental model of this type of keratitis. Chemical constituents of the aqueous extract of were identified using Liquid Chromatography-mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). In vitro showed a significant inhibitory effect on trophozoites and cysts compared to the reference drug, chlorhexidine (CHX) as well as the non-treated control ( < 0.05) with statistically different effectiveness in terms of treatment durations and concentrations. No cytotoxic effect of on corneal cell line was found even at high concentrations (32 mg/ml) using agar diffusion method. The in vivo results confirmed the efficacy of where the extract enhanced keratitis healing with complete resolution of corneal ulcers in 80% of the infected animals by day 14 (post infection)pi compared to 70% recovery with CHX after 20 treatment days. The therapeutic effect was also approved at histological, immune-histochemical, and parasitological levels. Our findings support the potential use of as an effective agent against keratitis.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9508644PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2022.06.005DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

trophozoites cysts
8
amoebicidal keratitis
4
keratitis model
4
model spelaea
4
spelaea free-living
4
free-living amoeba
4
amoeba proved
4
proved keratitis
4
keratitis difficult
4
difficult treatment
4

Similar Publications

Background: Diseases in humans caused by amphizoic amoebae that can result in visual impairment and even blindness, have recently been identified more frequently worldwide. Etiologically complex incidents of keratitis, including those connected with strains detected in Poland, were evaluated in this study.

Methods: Corneal samples from cases resistant to antimicrobial therapy assessed for epidemiological, microbiological and parasitological aspects were investigated by phase-contrast microscope, slit lamp and by confocal microscopy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Nitroxoline evidence amoebicidal activity against Acanthamoeba castellanii through DNA damage and the stress response pathways.

Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist

January 2025

Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Acanthamoeba castellanii is a widespread unicellular eukaryote found in diverse environments, including tap water, soil, and swimming pools. It is responsible for severe infections, such as Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous amebic encephalitis, particularly in individuals with immunocompromisation. The ability of protozoans to form dormant and persistent cysts complicates treatment, as current therapies are ineffective against cyst stages and suffer from poor specificity and side effects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Acanthamoeba species are protozoa that can cause serious eye and CNS infections, and current treatments are often ineffective, especially in specific areas like the eye.
  • The study evaluates the effectiveness of ethanolic fruit extract of E. umbellata, silver nanoparticles derived from it, and lauric acid in killing Acanthamoeba trophozoites and protecting DNA from damage.
  • Results show that these treatments can significantly kill trophozoites and prevent DNA damage, suggesting potential new options for treating Acanthamoeba infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The current study aimed to investigate the trophocidal and cysticidal activities of cinnamaldehyde (Cinn), a natural compound with known antimicrobial properties, against environmental and reference strains of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Additionally, we explored the potential benefits of Cinn formulated as a nanoemulsion (Cinn-NE) in enhancing its efficacy.

Methods: Cinn-NE was prepared using the ultrasonic emulsification method.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among children in Duhok Province, Iraq, from October 2022 to May 2023, involving 740 pediatric patients.
  • A total of 205 children (27.7%) tested positive for infections, with the highest rates found in the 5-9 age group, and significant variations in prevalence noted among different age categories.
  • The findings indicate that amoebiasis and cryptosporidiosis are more common than previously reported in Iraq, while giardiasis occurred at lower rates, highlighting the need for improved public health measures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!