Efficacy of azithromycin in a murine toxoplasmosis model, employing a Toxoplasma gondii strain from Turkey.

Abstract A murine toxoplasmosis model with Balb/C mice was used to investigate the therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of azithromycin in a native strain of Toxoplasma gondii . Initially, seven groups—four studies and three controls—were established and 10 3 tachyzoites of this native strain of T. gondii were injected intraperitoneally to the mice in groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. Azithromycin was given to groups 1–4 at different times of infection orally between 100 and 300 mg/kg/day for 10 days. Azithromycin was found to be effective at 200 mg/kg/day and above in the prophylaxis, at 250 mg/kg/day and above in the treatment of toxoplasmosis. These results suggest that azithromycin is effective in the prophylaxis and early infection of a highly virulent strain of T. gondii , and it doubled the survival time in the late infection. Azithromycin could be an alternative treatment regimen for human toxoplasmosis, if supported by further clinical investigations.