Cyclosporin A: antiparasite drug, modulator of the host-parasite relationship and immunosuppressant

Abstract

SUMMARYCyclosporin A (CsA), a cyclic undecapeptide with powerful properties of immunosuppression, acts on parasitic infections in laboratory animals in various ways. The outcome of drug administrationin vivovaries with timing of treatment relative to infection, route of administration, dose and number of treatments applied. CsA is clearly antiparasitic against malaria, schistosomes, adult tapeworms, metacestodes and filarial nematodes. By contrast, it acts as an immunomodulator against trypanosomes andGiardia, by exacerbating infection; in the case ofLeishmaniaspp. the drug acts variously. In some other infections CsA acts both as an antiparasite drug and as an immunosuppressant (Toxoplasma, avian coccidiosis and gastrointestinal nematodes).