Colchicine Decreases the Infection by Toxoplasma gondii in Cultured Glial Cells

Addition of colchicine (2.5 x 10-8-1.25 x 10-6M) to cultures of glial cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii decreased the number of parasites up to 80% (P < 0.05) in comparision with controls. Our results indicate that colchicine could interfere with the infectious, or replicative mechanisms, or both, of Toxoplasma and place it as a candidate in the search for additional antitoxoplasmic therapy for those cases where the parasitic load is massive. Further studies in vivo must be made to confirm this finding and provide support for therapeutic trials.