Full length articleNitazoxanide induces in vitro metabolic acidosis in Taenia crassiceps cysticerci

- NTZ induces impair in glucose uptake in in vitro cysticerci.
- NTZ did not influence the pyruvate concentrations in in vitro cysticerci.
- NTZ induces metabolic acidosis in in vitro cysticerci.
- The metabolic acidosis in vitro induced by NTZ is greater than ABZ.

Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is a broad-spectrum anti-parasitic drug used against a wide variety of protozoans and helminthes. Albendazole, its active metabolite albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO), is one of the drugs of choice to treat both intestinal and tissue helminth and protozoan infections. However little is known regarding their impact on the metabolism of parasites. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro effect of NTZ and ABZSO in the glycolysis of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci. The cysticerci were treated with 1.2; 0.6; 0.3 or 0.15 μg/mL of NTZ or ABZSO. Chromatographic and spectrophotometric analyses were performed in the culture medium and in the cysticerci extract. Regarding the glucose concentrations was possible to observe two responses: impair of the uptake and gluconeogenesis. The pyruvate concentrations were increased in the ABZSO treated group. Lactate concentrations were increased in the culture medium of NTZ treated groups. Therefore it was possible to infer that the metabolic acidosis was greater in the group treated with NTZ than in the ABZSO treated group indicating that this is one of the modes of action used by this drug to induce the parasite death.

Lactate concentrations in the culture medium and in the cysticerci extract of cysticerci exposed to different concentrations of albendazole and nitazoxanide. CM: concentrations detected in the culture medium analysis; CYST: concentrations detected in the cysticerci extract; CTL CM: RPMI culture medium without cysticerci; CTL CYST: cysticerci without drugs exposure; NTZ 1.2: cysticerci exposed to 1.2 μg/mL of nitazoxanide; NTZ 0.6: cysticerci exposed to 0.6 μg/mL of nitazoxanide; NTZ 0.3 cysticerci exposed to 0.3 μg/mL of nitazoxanide; NTZ 0.15: cysticerci exposed to 0.15 μg/mL of nitazoxanide; ABZSO 1.2: cysticerci exposed to 1.2 μg/mL of albendazole sulfoxide; ABZSO 0.6: cysticerci exposed to 0.6 μg/mL of albendazole sulfoxide; ABZSO 0.3: cysticerci exposed to 0.3 μg/mL of albendazole sulfoxide; ABZSO 0.15: cysticerci exposed to 0.15 μg/mL of albendazole sulfoxide. * statistical difference when compared to the control group.