# Oral Treatment of Lactoferrin Nanocapsules Modulates the Immune Response of Mice to a Cryptosporidiosis Infection

## TL;DR

This study shows that lactoferrin nanocapsules, when combined with nanazoxid, can reduce the effects of a mouse infection caused by Cryptosporidium by modulating the immune response.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the evaluation of lactoferrin nanocapsules combined with nanazoxid as an effective oral treatment for cryptosporidiosis in mice.

## Key findings

- Treatment with NZ plus LF-NC significantly reduced intestinal oocyst counts and pathological lesions.
- Cytokines TGF-β, INF-γ, and IL-10 levels were decreased following therapy, indicating immune modulation.
- Fecal and intestinal oocyst counts were notably reduced with NZ or NZ+LF-NC treatment.

## Abstract

The current study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory impact of either lactoferrin (LF), lactoferrin nanocapsule (LF-NC), or lactoferrin conjugation with nanazoxid (NZ). Moreover, identifying drugs can effectively eliminate and successfully treat the infection with Cryptosporidium.

Sixty male Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups, each of 10 mice. G1 served as the control, and G2 was inoculated with 104 oocysts. Mice were orally administered NZ (200 mg/kg b.wt.), LF (150 µg/kg b.wt.), or LF-NC (150 mg/kg b.wt./day) for a period of six days post-infection. The immunomodulatory potential and drug efficacy were assessed by fecal and intestinal oocyst counts, measuring antioxidant activities and cytokine levels in addition. Intestinal tissues were examined histopathologically.

The cytokines TGF-β, INF-γ, and IL-10 were increased during infection and decreased following therapy. Mutually, the quantity of pathological lesions and oocysts in the ileal tissues was significantly diminished with the NZ plus LF-NC treatment. In addition, a considerable reduction of both fecal and intestinal samples, as well as a notable deterioration in oocyst counts, suggested that treatment with NZ alone or in combination with LF-NC was more effective.

LF or LF-NC was found to exert a potent immunomodulatory effect on infected mice as well as minimize pathological lesions. This therapy approaches a successful therapeutic alternative for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis with few adverse effects.