Blastocystis spp. is a protozoan parasite with controversial clinical significance and consensus
for treatment. Metronidazole was considered the main line of treatment, but currently wide range
of efficacy rate, drug resistance and many undesirable side effects motivated the search for a novel
effective safe therapy. Chitosan nanoparticles have offered a new pharmacological tool for the
treatment of many parasites especially protozoan parasites.
In vitro antiprotozoal activity of Chitosan Nanoparticles (Cs NPs) on Blastocystis spp. was assessed
through challenging with graded concentrations (20, 40, & 50μg/ml) compared to MTZ
(100μg/ml), parasite count and viability was assessed after 24, 48 & 72hr. of incubation.
Chitosan nanoparticles offered a remarkable inhibition activity on blastocystis growth and viability,
which were proportional to its concentration and exposure duration, Cs NPs 20μg/mL gave a
significant growth inhibition percentage after 24hr & 48hr (56.4% & 50.5%) respectively, regarding
Cs NPs 40μg/ml, it was (73.1% & 86.9%) respectively. While highly significant decrease in
mean parasitic count 99.2% was occurred when 50μg/ml Cs NPs was used for 72hr compared to
89.8% MTZ for the same duration. Meanwhile, metronidazole (100μg/ml) was effective in treatment
of blastocystis more than Cs NP 20μg/ml, but it was less effective than Cs NP 40μg/mL and
Cs NP 50μg/ml for all duration time.