Toxoplasma gondii infection treatment

In a study aimed at the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii infections in AIDS patients, several 2,4-diaminothieno[2,3-pyrimidine analogs 49b of the potent dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors trimetrexate and piritrexim were tested. Although several compounds... 

Clarithromycin, a macrolide, and other macrolide and lincosamine antibiotics (azithromycin, clindamycin, spiramycin, and roxithromycin) have been nsed in combination with pjrimethamine in the treatment of Toxoplasma gondii infections, especially cases of Toxoplasma encephalitis. 

Spiramycin is another macrolide, recently introduced into medicine for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, infections caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. This contains a 16-membered lactone ring (erythromycin has a 14-membered ring), and two aminosugars, o-mycaminose and o-forosamine. o-Forosamine is remarkable in having only one hydroxyl group, and that is bound up in the hemiacetal ring system. 

One of the most common infections in man is caused by the protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, which is transmitted to humans when they consume raw or inadequately cooked, infected meat. Infected pregnant women can transmit the organism to the fetus. Cats are the only animals that shed oocysts that can infect other animals as well as man. The treatment of choice for this condition is the antifolate drug, pyrimethamine [peer i METH a meen] (see p. 353). A combination of sulfadiazine (see p. 289) and pyrimethamine is also efficacious. Leucovorin is often administered to protect against folate deficiency. Other inhibitors of folate biosynthesis, such as trimethoprim (see p. 293) and sulfamethoxazole (see p. 289) are without therapeutic efficacy in toxoplasmosis. [Note At the first appearance of a rash, pyrimethamine should be discontinued since hypersensitivity to this drug can be severe.]... 

In chronic brucellosis, Brucella abortus infects macrophages, thus eluding the immune response [253]. When immunostimulatory drugs such as couma-rin were administered, the symptoms of chronic brucellosis disappeared. These results have encouraged the use of coumarin in other chronic infections such as mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus), mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma pneumoniae), toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii), and Q fever (Coxiella burnetii). Also, another antiplasmodial coumarin derivate called 5,7-dimethoxy-8-(3 -hydroxy-3 methyl-l -butene)-coumarin has been isolated from the roots of the plant Toddalia asiatica. This finding supports the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of malaria [254]. 

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