Lack of in vitro antimicrosporidian activity of thalidomide

Abstract

Thalidomide was evaluated for its in vitro activity against Encephalitozoon species by using the MRC-5 cell system. A cytotoxic effect was observed for concentrations of 101 μg/ml (P < 105) and 5 μg/ml (P < 105). Thalidomide did not significantly inhibit the growth of any of the microsporidia under study. These data suggest that thalidomide is not an etiologic treatment in microsporidial enteritis.