مقایسه اثر درمان ضد کریپتوسپوریدیایی نانوداروی نیتازوکسانید با داروی آزاد در نوزاد موش

Introduction & objective: cryptosporidiosis caused by cryptosporidium, which is a protozoan parasite, has a worldwide distribution. the infection is through fecal-oral route, direct or indi-rect contact, food or water. the treatment of cryptosporidiosis is difficult and the anti-parasitic agents are not effective. the purpose of this study was encapsulation of nitazoxanide in solid lipid nano-particles (sln) and investigation of its anti-cryptosporidium effect and its comparison with free drug in the neonatal rat. materials & methods: nitazoxanide was encapsulated by hph method with 2 mg/kg concentra-tion in sln nanoparticles. the oocysts were collected from calves and purified by sucrose floatation. a total of 72 wistar neonatal rats were categorized in 6 groups of 12 rats including four infected groups treated by free drug, encapsulated nano drug, colloidal carriers without drug (sln) and olive oil; an infected control group and a healthy control group that received pbs. 5 × 105 of oocyts inoculated orally into the sample groups. finally, intestine of each rat was homogenized in pbs by rotor and the homogenized material was passed through a sieve. then, floated oocysts in sucrose solution were counted by hemocytometer.results: treatment by nitazoxanide significantly decreased the number of parasites in the treatment groups. this decrease at day 6 was more than day 3. nano nitazoxanide had more effects on parasites than free drug. this difference at day 3 of treatment was not significant (p= 0.182) but at day 6 was statistically significant (p < 0.001).conclusion: using nano-nitazoxanide could be a more effective way in the treatment of cryp-tosporidium infections. (sci j hamadan univ med sci 2016; 23 (2):134-140)