Infection by Cryptosporidium species causing cryptosporidiosis is considered a life-threatening
condition in immunosuppressed patients, with unfortunately limited treatment options. This
study evaluated the efficacy of Artemisia absinthium (AA) and Curcuma longa (CL) combination
therapy unloaded and loaded on chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) and conjugated with conventional
nitazo- xanide (NTZ) in treating cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed mice. The
study design included fifty-six immunosuppressed mice classified into three main groups, divided
into subgroups; eight mice each: GIA: non-infected non-treated, GIB: infected non-treated,
GII: infected and treated with: CS NPs conventional free NTZ (GIIIA), AA and CL loaded on
Cs NPs (GIIIB), conjugated AA and CL with NTZ loaded on Cs NPs (GIIIC), and AA and CL
free combination (GIIID). Treatment efficacy was evaluated via parasitological examination,
histopathological parameters, and the determination of oxidative stress markers. The most significant
results were in the immun- osuppressed mice received unloaded unconjugated AA and
CL free combination (GIIID) with a highly significant reduction (88%) in C. parvum oocysts
shedding. Also, a remarked histo-patholo- gical improvement was revealed in the intestinal tissue
sections nearly back to normal architecture and to lesser extent in extra-intestinal tissue sections
in the same treated group. Meanwhile, oxidative stress markers (GSH & MDA) levels
showed a high significant improvement (P< 0.001) in GIIID versus other treated ones.