IN-VITRO STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF CHITOSAN, AND CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES ON THE VIABILITY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF BLASTOCYSTIS SPECIES

Blastocystis is an anaerobic parasite that was identified as the most common eukaryotic organismreported in human fecal samples. Data on treatment options signifies that efficacious antimicrobialeradication of Blastocystis spp. is still far from straight forward. As well as Metronidazole, hasshown some resistance. The study evaluated chitosan and chitosan Nano particles against Blastocystisin vitro. Blastocystis species in stool samples were cultured. Culture tubes were divided intothree groups: Chitosan, Chitosan Nano particles and Metronidazole (reference drug), and positivecontrol. Different criteria were used to evaluate the tested drugs on Blastocystis and assessingthe viability before and after treatment by the use of Neutral red stain and recording structuralchanges. Also, TEMand the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/comet assay were used.The results showed a direct relation between increase in the concentration of Chitosan and Chitosannano-particles and exposure time and increase in the mortality rates. TEM showed morphologicaldamage when exposed to tested drug, Comet assay showed direct relationship between theincrease in the dose of Chitosan Nano particles NPs and the degree of DNA genotoxic destruction.