The traditional treatment of
toxoplasmosis involves the use of
pyrimethamine and
sulphadiazine. This combination has a teratogenic effect and its use is limited especially in immunosuppressed cases.
Spiramycin used safely during pregnancy is also not effective because it is toxoplasmistatic only. The potential efficiency of alternative
immunotherapy was assessed. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of exogenously supplied
IL-2 on T. gondii infected mice.
IL-2 was administered after
infection (on days +2, +4, +6, +8), before and after
infection (on days -3, -1, +2, +4, +6) and before
infection (on days -8, -6, -4, -2). The date of
infection was considered zero. Assessment of its effect was through: a) Parasitological study which included: parasite count, differentiation between living and dead tachyzoites and death rate of
infection mice. b) Immunological study: detection of circulating
antigen on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th day p.i. The results showed that IL-2 was most effective when administered before and after
infection in the form of significant reduction in parasitic count, least number of living tachyzoites, significant reduction in the death rate of infected mice and delayed appearance of circulating
antigen with reduction in its level.