Abstract
Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis), an opportunistic intracellular coccidian, is responsible for chronic debilitating diarrheal outbreaks possessing life-threatening penalties, especially in immunocompromised patients. The solemn therapeutic agents against cyclosporiasis are limited by their grave effects and high recurrence rate. The current study aimed to utilize greenly synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and evaluate their therapeutic efficacy on cyclosporiasis in immunosuppressed murine models. They were biosynthesized proficiently using Alcaligenes faecalis and characterized by assorted analytical techniques. After molecular confirmation of the parasite strain, immunosuppressed mice were infected with 10,000 C. cayetanensis sporulated oocysts. The anti-Cyclospora activity of seven-day oral treatment of 10 mg/kg of SeNPs was assessed through parasitological, ultrastructural, histopathological, and biochemical studies. The in vivo safety of SeNPs was assessed clinically, biochemically, and histopathologically. Parasitologically, SeNPs recorded the highest statistically significant decrease in the fecal oocyst burden (97.96%R) on the 30th day post-infection (PI). Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed remarkably deformed SeNPs-treated oocysts. SeNPs-treated mice exhibited impressive amelioration in intestinal architecture and inflammation, protracted to the 30th day PI. Colorimetric analysis revealed that SeNPs have recorded the highest serum reduced glutathione (GSH) level (300% increase) that swiftly repressed malondialdehyde (MDA) by 63.46%R. The present work has shed the first light on biogenic SeNPs as a safe, promising, proficient antioxidant nanotherapeutic for the treatment of experimental cyclosporiasis.