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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #32148
Title: QINGHAOSU (ARTEMISININ) AND DERIVATIVES FAIL TO PROTECT NEONATAL BALB/C MICE AGAINST CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM (CP) INFECTION

Author
item Fayer, Ronald
item ELLIS W - WALTER REED ARMY INST RES

Submitted to: Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Cryptosporidiosis is a widespread protozoan disease of cattle and humans for which there is no approved medication. The successful use of qinghaosu for treatment of malaria suggested its potential usefulness for treatment of cryptosporidiosis. Using an experimental mouse model system qinghaosu was found ineffective in preventing development of the Cryptosporidium parasite or too toxic at a dosage that prevented development.

Technical Abstract: Oral administration of Artemisinin, and its derivatives beta- artemether and beta-arteether at 200 and 400 mg/kg failed to prevent development of Cryptosporidium parvum endogenous stages in BALB/c neonates except for artemether given at a toxic level. Therefore, these compounds appear unsuitable for chemoprophylaxis of cryptosporidiosis.