Synergistic anticryptosporidial potential of the combination alpha-1-antitrypsin and paromomycin.

The combined effect of the serine protease inhibitor alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and the aminoglycoside paromomycin on Cryptosporidium parvum infection in vitro was investigated. AAT and paromomycin were mixed with C. parvum oocysts as either single or combined treatments and used to inoculate epithelial cell cultures. Single- and combined-treatment groups had significantly lower (P < 0.01) parasite numbers than untreated controls. The mean fractional inhibitory concentration indices suggested significant synergistic activity.