Trypanosoma cruzi infection treatment

Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The current treatment involves noxious organic drugs, the dose being limited by the toxicity of the therapy. Helminth worms include flukes, tapeworm and roundworms, which cause a diverse range of infections all over the world. For example, the annual incidence of infection from threadworm exceeds 200 milhon cases, including high levels of infection in Europe, Canada and the US. 

DNA has also been tested as a carrier for ethidium bromide, a drug used in the treatment of protozoal diseases. When compared with free drug, the DNA-bound drug showed decreased toxicity and higher therapeutic efficacy in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi [231]. 

In a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial, benznidazole 5 mg/kg/day for 60 days was compared with placebo in children in the indeterminate phase of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi (1). In general, treatment was well tolerated. The treated children had a significant reduction in mean titers of antibodies against T. cruzi measured by indirect hemagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence, and ELISA. At 4-year follow-up, 62% of the benznidazole-treated children and no placebo-treated chUd were seronegative for T. cruzi. Xenodiagnosis after 48 months was positive in 4.7% of the benznidazole-treated children and in 51% of the placebo-treated children. 

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