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Abstract
Cryptosporidium species and Giardia intestinalis are the most common enteric protozoan
pathogens affecting humans worldwide. In recent years, nitazoxanide has been licensed
in the United States for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in non-immunodeficient
children and adults, becoming the first drug approved for treating this disease. There
is a need for a highly effective treatment for cryptosporidiosis in immunodeficient
patients, but the quest for such a drug has proven to be elusive. While not effective
against Cryptosporidium, nitroimidazoles such as metronidazole or tinidazole are effective
treatments for giardiasis and can be administered as a single dose. Albendazole and
nitazoxanide are effective against giardiasis but require multiple doses. Nitazoxanide
is the first new drug developed for treating giardiasis in more than 20years. New
potentially promising drug targets in Cryptosporidium and Giardia have been identified,
but there appears to be little activity toward clinical development of new drugs.
Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier Inc.