Activity of minocycline against Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice.

Abstract

The chemotherapeutic activity of minocycline, a semi-synthetic tetracycline analogue, was evaluated in a murine model of toxoplasmosis. A lethal acute toxoplasmosis was produced by injecting 10(5) tachyzoites of the RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii into the peritoneal cavities of Swiss-Webster mice. When infected mice were treated once daily for 12 days, starting 2 h after challenge, the survival and cure rates were 100% and 40% respectively after minocycline alone (100 mg/kg per day), 0% and 0% after pyrimethamine alone (8.5 mg/kg per day), and 100% and 50% after combination of the two drugs at the same dosages. Absolute survival and cure with minocycline were observed when mice were treated with two daily doses of 100 mg/kg for 12 days. Mice chronically infected with a low virulent strain of T. gondii (Me49) showed a significant reduction in the number of brain cysts after three weeks of treatment with 50 mg/kg per day of minocycline. Minocycline serum levels after a single oral administration of 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg to normal mice, peaked at 1.8 mg/l and 10 mg/l after 1 h, respectively, and showed an extended half-life.

• Authors: H R Chang, R Comte, P F Piguet, J C Pechère
• Journal: The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy (J Antimicrob Chemother) Vol. 27 Issue 5 Pg. 639-45 (May 1991) ISSN: 0305-7453 [Print] England
• PMID: 1885421 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Minocycline
• Pyrimethamine

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Animals
• Chronic Disease
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Female
• Mice
• Minocycline (blood, therapeutic use)
• Pyrimethamine (therapeutic use)
• Remission Induction
• Toxoplasmosis, Animal (drug therapy, parasitology)