Co-administration of Erythromycin and Leech Salivary Extract Alleviates Osteomyelitis in Rats Induced by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

• Published in: Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology Vol. 33; no. 4; p. 243
• Main Authors: Gerivani, Bahar, Staji, Hamid, Rassouli, Maryam, Ghazaleh, Nooshin, Vayeghan, Abbas Javaheri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Biological Products - therapeutic use; Erythromycin - therapeutic use; Leeches - chemistry; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Osteomyelitis - diagnostic imaging; Osteomyelitis - drug therapy; Osteomyelitis - microbiology; Radiography; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Saliva - chemistry; Staphylococcal Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Tibia
• ISSN: 2567-6911
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1703008

Erythromycin (Ery) and leech saliva (LS) can inhibit growth in conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the activities and synergy between Ery and LS on chronic osteomyelitis in male Wistar rat's tibia induced by methicillin-resistant (MRSA).  Four weeks after osteomyelitis induction, rats were divided into four groups including no treatment (control), Ery monotherapy (orally), LS monotherapy, or Ery + LS twice daily for 2 weeks. growth, pathological signs and inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were assessed.  Rats tolerated all therapeutic strategies well during the experiment. The Ery treatment alone significantly decreased bacterial growth, pathological signs and TNF-α levels. Leech saliva alone reduced TNF-α level significantly, but did not produce a significant reduction in bacterial growth and pathological signs. Ery + LS treatment significantly decreased bacterial growth, considerably alleviated bone pathological signs and decreased TNF-α levels compared with other groups. Statistical analysis suggested that there was a stronger efficiency and synergistic action of Ery and LS when combined against MRSA-induced osteomyelitis in rats.  The present study suggests that LS may have clinical utility to treat MRSA-induced osteomyelitis when combined with Ery or other therapeutics.