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Investigation of the in vitro cysticidal activity of miltefosine against Acanthamoeba spp.

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Abstract

The present study evaluated the in vitro efficacy of miltefosine against cysts of Acanthamoeba spp. belonging to genotypes T3, T4 and T5. Each genotype was incubated with miltefosine at the concentration of 2.42, 4.84, 9.68, 19.36, 38.72 and 77.44 mM for different periods; 1, 3, 5, 7 d at 37 °C. The viability was assessed by staining with 0.4% trypan blue and culturing on NNA medium at 30 °C for 1 month. The results showed 100% eradication of cyst stage of all concentrations, but exhibited a different degree of activity against different genotypes. The MCC of 38.72 mM could kill genotype T4 and T5 after 1 d of incubation, whereas the killing of T3 needed MCC of 77.44 mM at the same incubation time. Miltefosine showed statistically highly significant difference (P < 0.001) in comparison to non-treated control. Although our finding needs to confirm in animal models, this information may be the guideline for optimizing therapy or considered to combine with the other drugs for effective treatment.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by Grants from the following: the Thailand Research Fund (MRG6080065); and was supported in part by the Faculty of Medicine of Khon Kaen University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Malin Chao, Thaksaporn Thongseesuksai, Thidarut Boonmars & Porntip Laummaunwai

  2. Neglected, Zoonosis and Vector-Borne Disease Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Thidarut Boonmars & Porntip Laummaunwai

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  1. Malin Chao
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  2. Thaksaporn Thongseesuksai
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  3. Thidarut Boonmars
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  4. Porntip Laummaunwai
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Correspondence to Porntip Laummaunwai.

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Chao, M., Thongseesuksai, T., Boonmars, T. et al. Investigation of the in vitro cysticidal activity of miltefosine against Acanthamoeba spp.. J Parasit Dis 44, 491–495 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-020-01204-w

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