Oral Treatment of Lactoferrin Nanocapsules Modulates the Immune Response of Mice to a Cryptosporidiosis Infection

Abstract

Purpose

The current study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory impact of either lactoferrin (LF), lactoferrin nanocapsule (LF-NC), or lactoferrin conjugation with nanazoxid (NZ). Moreover, identifying drugs can effectively eliminate and successfully treat the infection with Cryptosporidium.

Methods

Sixty male Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups, each of 10 mice. G1 served as the control, and G2 was inoculated with 10⁴ oocysts. Mice were orally administered NZ (200 mg/kg b.wt.), LF (150 µg/kg b.wt.), or LF-NC (150 mg/kg b.wt./day) for a period of six days post-infection. The immunomodulatory potential and drug efficacy were assessed by fecal and intestinal oocyst counts, measuring antioxidant activities and cytokine levels in addition. Intestinal tissues were examined histopathologically.

Results

The cytokines TGF-β, INF-γ, and IL-10 were increased during infection and decreased following therapy. Mutually, the quantity of pathological lesions and oocysts in the ileal tissues was significantly diminished with the NZ plus LF-NC treatment. In addition, a considerable reduction of both fecal and intestinal samples, as well as a notable deterioration in oocyst counts, suggested that treatment with NZ alone or in combination with LF-NC was more effective.

Conclusion

LF or LF-NC was found to exert a potent immunomodulatory effect on infected mice as well as minimize pathological lesions. This therapy approaches a successful therapeutic alternative for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis with few adverse effects.