Background: Cryptosporidium is a life-threatening intestinal pathogen in immunocompromised patients.
Currently, there is no entirely successful drug against cryptosporidiosis. Several reports utilizing
nanotechnology combined with herbal medicine were published to evaluate its efficacy in treatment of
intestinal pathogens.
Objectives: To evaluate the anti-cryptosporidial efficacy of Commiphora molmol extract and its conjugation
with chitosan nanofibers (CsNFs) for treatment of cryptosporidiosis in mice.
Material and Methods: Sixty-five male albino mice were infected orally with 104 Cryptosporidium oocysts.
They were grouped and treated with nanazoxid (NTZ) (100 mg/kg), C. molmol extract (500 mg/kg), and
C. molmol loaded chitosan nanofibers (Cm-CsNFs) at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. The scarification of mice
was done after 5 and 10 days of treatments. Assessment of the treatments' efficacy was achieved using
parasitological parameters: oocysts and trophozoites counts, and histopathological examination.
Results: C. molmol extract and Cm-CsNFs (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the mean number of intestinal
oocysts. All the treatment regimens significantly (P<0.05) diminished the mean number of trophozoites
relative to the infected non-treated group. Apparent pathological alterations in intestinal tissues were
consistent with cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidium-induced pathological alterations were improved
remarkably in Cm-CsNFs (100 mg/kg) group.
Conclusion: Our study highlights the efficacy of C. molmol as an extract or conjugated with CsNFs in
declining cryptosporidiosis and attenuating Cryptosporidium-induced intestinal injury.