Parasitic Loads in Tissues of Mice Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and Treated with AmBisome
2011

Effect of AmBisome on Chagas Disease in Mice

Sample size: 72 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Cencig Sabrina, Coltel Nicolas, Truyens Carine, Carlier Yves

Primary Institution: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

Hypothesis

Does AmBisome treatment reduce parasitic loads and improve survival in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi?

Conclusion

AmBisome treatment significantly reduces parasitic loads in tissues and prevents mortality in mice infected with T. cruzi, but does not completely cure the infection.

Supporting Evidence

  • AmBisome treatment during the acute phase prevented mortality in infected mice.
  • Parasite loads were significantly reduced in heart, liver, spleen, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissues.
  • Earlier administration of AmBisome was more effective in reducing parasite loads.

Takeaway

Researchers gave a medicine called AmBisome to sick mice to see if it helps them get better from a parasite. It helped the mice live longer and made the germs in their bodies much less.

Methodology

Mice were infected with T. cruzi and treated with AmBisome in various phases of infection; parasitic loads were measured using quantitative PCR.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in treatment administration and measurement of outcomes.

Limitations

The study does not demonstrate complete cure of T. cruzi infection in treated mice.

Participant Demographics

BALB/cJ mice, 6 weeks old, infected with T. cruzi.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.0003

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pntd.0001216

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication