Anthelmintic and therapeutic effects of the biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles against acute kidney injury induced by Parascaris equorum Infection in rats

Abstract

Complications of parasite infections, especially kidney disease, have been linked to poorer outcomes. Acute kidney damage, glomerulonephritis, and tubular dysfunction are the most prevalent renal consequences of Parascaris equorum infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacological effects of green-produced zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on P. equorum infection in male Wistar rats. Thirty-six male rats were divided into two groups of 18 each: infected and non-infected. Both groups were separated into three subgroups, each of which received distilled water, 30 mg/kg ZnO NPs, and 60 mg/kg ZnO NPs. After 10 days of ZnO NPs administration, four larvae per gram of kidney tissue were present in the untreated infected group. While, no larvae were present in ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg) treated group, and one larva/g.tissue was present in ZnO NPs (60 mg/kg) treated group compared to untreated infected animals. P. equorum infected rats had increased kidney biomarkers (creatinine, urea, uric acid), malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, with a significant decrease in their antioxidant systems. On the other hand, infected treated rats with green-produced zinc oxide nanoparticles had a substantial drop in creatinine, urea, uric acid, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, as well as a significant rise in their antioxidant systems. P. equorum infection in rats caused severe degenerative and necrotic renal tissues. On the other hand, there were no detectable histopathological alterations in rats treated with ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg) as compared to the infected untreated animals. When compared to infected untreated mice, immunohistochemical examination of nuclear factor-kappa B showed a significant decrease during treatment with ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg). Green-produced zinc oxide nanoparticles are a viable therapeutic strategy for Parascaris equorum infection due to their potent anthelmintic activity, including a significant decrease in larval burden in infected treated rats.

Keywords: Anthelmintic; Larvae; Nanoparticles; Parascaris equorum.

Fig. 1

TEM image of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using egg white. Scale bar 100μm

Fig. 2

UV-Vis spectroscopy of ZnO nanoparticles

Fig. 3

XRD Pattern of ZnO NPs

Fig. 4

Larval counts in infected kidney. Results are expressed as mean ± SE in each group. a : significant at (P  < 0.05) compared to control group. b : significant compared to vehicle group

Fig. 5

Photomicrographs of the kidney (hematoxylin and eosin stain). a  control group, b  ZnO NPs (30 mg/Kg) group, and c  ZnO NPs (60 mg/Kg) group showing normal histological structure of renal tubules in the renal cortex without any detectable histopathological alterations in the renal parenchyma. d  vehicle group showing perivascular edema and inflammatory cells infiltration (black arrow) with presence of renal cast in the tubular lumen (green arrow). e P. equorum  + ZnO NPs (30 mg/Kg) group showing presence of renal casts in the tubular lumen (arrow). f P. equorum  + ZnO NPs (60 mg/Kg) group showing apparently normal renal tissue

Fig. 6

Photomicrographs of kidney (Immune staining). a  control group showing normal negative to limited NF-κβ staining, b  and c  ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/Kg) groups exhibiting normal amounts of NF-κβ. d  vehicle group showing intense renal NF-κβ staining. e P. equorum  + ZnO NPs (30 mg/Kg) group showing moderate positive expression. f P. equorum  + ZnO NPs (60 mg/Kg) group showing mild positive staining. g  Charts represent quantified NF-κβ expression as area %. Data presented as means ± SE. Significance considered at P˂0.05