Effect of interleukin-2 on experimental acute toxoplasmosis

The traditional treatment of toxoplasmosis involves the use of pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine. This combination has a teratogenic effect and its use is limited especially in immunosuppressed cases. Spiramycin used safely during pregnancy is also not effective because it is toxoplasmistatic only. The potential efficiency of alternative immunotherapy was assessed. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of exogenously supplied IL-2 on T. gondii infected mice. IL-2 was administered after infection (on days +2, +4, +6, +8), before and after infection (on days -3, -1, +2, +4, +6) and before infection (on days -8, -6, -4, -2). The date of infection was considered zero. Assessment of its effect was through: a) Parasitological study which included: parasite count, differentiation between living and dead tachyzoites and death rate of infection mice. b) Immunological study: detection of circulating antigen on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th day p.i. The results showed that IL-2 was most effective when administered before and after infection in the form of significant reduction in parasitic count, least number of living tachyzoites, significant reduction in the death rate of infected mice and delayed appearance of circulating antigen with reduction in its level.