Therapeutic Efficacy of Paromomycin in Immunosuppressed Adult Mice Infected with Cryptosporidium parvum

The intent of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of paromomycin in immunosuppressed adult C57BL/6N mice infected with Cryptosporidium parvum. Seven groups of 10 mice/group were used. Groups 1, 2, and 7 served as normal, toxicity, and placebo controls, respectively. Groups 2-7 were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone phosphate administered ad libitum in drinking water. Groups 3-7 were infected with C. parvum on day 7 postimmunosuppression. Groups 3-6 were treated by administering paromomycin per os for 10 consecutive days, beginning on day 10 postinfection, at dosage levels of 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg/day, respectively. Paromomycin was judged to be nontoxic at the dosage levels used. Groups 1 and 2 remained uninfected while groups 3-7 began shedding oocysts by day 3 postinfection. Paromomycin was therapeutically effective against C. parvum at 1 and 2 g/kg/day as determined by significant reductions in fecal oocyst shedding (P < 0.01), parasite colonization (P < 0.05), and villus atrophy (P < 0.05) in the ilea and terminal ilea of infected mice. We conclude that paromomycin may be useful in the treatment and palliation of cryptosporidiosis.