Introduction: This study aims to assess the efficacy of silver nanoparticles (Ag Nps) alone
and combined with metronidazole (Ag Nps + MTZ) as potential alternative therapeutic
agents for Blastocystis hominis.
Methods: The parasites were challenged with Ag Nps, Ag Nps + MTZ and MTZ. To assess
the efficacy of drugs, counting of viable parasites was done after 1, 2, and 3 hours of adding
the drugs.
Results: Blastocystis hominis count was reduced by 20.72%, 28.23%, and 18.92% after
one hour of adding Ag Nps, Ag Nps + MTZ, and MTZ, respectively. Cysts count was further
reduced by 51.49%, 61.61%, and 40.78% after 2 hours and by 71.69%, 79.67%, and 62.65%
after 3 hours of adding the drugs in the same order, respectively.
Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference (P