The potential role of azithromycin in the treatment or prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is the most common parasitic infection worldwide with an estimated prevalence of 1–2 billion people. The risk of developing severe toxoplasmosis is higher for immunocompromised individuals and fetuses of mothers who have acquired a primo-infection. The current therapy of choice for toxoplasmosis is the synergistic combination of pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine. This therapy is highly effective but its use is complicated in immunocompromised individuals due to adverse secondary effects. In addition, since pyrimethamine is potentially teratogenic, its use is not recommended during early pregnancy. Clindamycin, a lincosaminide, in combination with pyrimethamine has been shown to be an acceptable therapeutic alternative in patients who are unable to tolerate pyrimethamine plus sulphadiazine. In the search for new, effective compounds with less adverse or toxic effects, recent efforts have focused on the new macrolides and the azalides. Here, the results of the investigations and, in particular, the theoretical considerations for the potential use of azithromycin in the therapy of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised individuals are reviewed.