Background: Cryptosporidium species are zoonotic opportunistic coccidian parasites that could cause
disseminated life-threatening infection in the immunocompromised host. Unfortunately, few available
drugs effectively eradicate the infectious oocyst with limited availability in developing countries. Although
Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is the drug of choice for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis, it has limited efficacy
in malnourished and immunocompromised patients. Moreover, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) successfully
ameliorated the hepatic granuloma size in patients with parasitic schistosomiasis mansoni.
Objective: This study aims to test the potential therapeutic effect of PRP versus the currently used NTZ,
and/or using PRP as adjuvant therapy.
Material and Methods: Sixty-five immunosuppressed rats were divided into 5 groups: non-infected as
negative control (GI), infected non-treated as the positive control (GII), infected with Cryptosporidium
spp. and treated with either intraperitoneal PRP (GIII), or NTZ (GIV), or a combination of intraperitoneal
PRP and NTZ (GV). Parameters used for evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy included parasitological
examination, histopathological examination of ileocaecal and liver specimens, and quantitative analysis
of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) for evaluation of oxidative stress markers,
glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) for evaluation of
liver functions.
Results: Parasitological and histopathological examinations revealed minimal improvement in GIII,
marked improvement in GIV, and the best results were recorded in GV. The administration of PRP in GIII
produced no significant changes in GSH, MDA, SGOT compared to positive control GII. Treatment with
NTZ in GIV, and in addition to PRP in GV showed significant difference (P<0.05) compared to GII regarding
serum results of GSH, MDA, and SGOT with the best results recorded in GV. GIV and GV showed reduction
of serum levels of SGPT although there was statistically insignificant difference between the study groups.
Conclusion: PRP could be used as a potential adjuvant therapy with NTZ to ameliorate the pathologic and
inflammatory effects of cryptosporidiosis on the ileocaecal region. It also improves liver function in the
immunocompromised hosts.