Evaluation of curcumin loaded chitosan nano particles in comparison with Nitazoxanide in treatment of giardiasis in experimentally infected hamsters / Shimaa Mohammed Abdelaal ; Supervised Abdallah Michel Boghdadi , Abeer Said Abdelghany Alantably , Naglaa Fouad Abbas Imam

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Parasitology

Giardia lamblia is considered one of the most common protozoal parasites in humans. It is the causative agent of giardiasis, a major cause of diarrheal illness. This study was conducted to detect antigiardial effect of curcumin chitosan nano particles versus Nitazoxanide in experimental giardiasis in hamsters. Parasitological assessment including cysts count, cysts viability as well as haematological and chemical effects of the drugs was done. Results revealed that the percentage of reduction in cysts number one week post treatment in the Nitazoxanide, curcumin, chitosan nano particles and curcumin chitosan nano particles treated groups were 94.7%, 10.8%, 54.3% and 32.7% respectively compared to infected non-treated group, while the percentage of reduction in cysts viability was 69.2%, 1.9%, 58.2% and 34.7% respectively compared to infected untreated group. Regarding haematological and chemical effect of the drug, none of the drugs exhibited any significant change except curcumin that caused significant increase in aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, urea and creatinine compared to healthy untreated group. It was concluded that Chitosan nano particles had the best antigiardial effect and it was more effective than curcumin chitosan nano particles, while Curcumin was the least antigiardial effect

Issued also as CD