title: Comparative effects of cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole), pyrimethamine-sulphadiazine and spiramycin during avirulent infection with Toxoplasma gondii (Beverley strain) in mice.
abstract: The antitoxoplasm effects of cotrimoxazole (Ctx), spiramycin (Spir) and pyrimethamine-sulphadiazine (Pmm-Sdz) were compared during both proliferative and chronic phases of infection of mice with the Beverley (Bev) strain of Toxoplasma gondii of low virulence. The therapeutic efficacy of the drugs was determined according to the following criteria: (i) specific antibody response; (ii) acquired resistance to lethal challenge with the virulent RH strain of Toxoplasma; and (iii) persistence of parasites in tissues (brain, liver, spleen) of treated mice. The results indicated that Ctx, like Pmm-Sdz, had a greater effect than Spir upon toxoplasma organisms during the proliferative phase of infection. In contrast, none of the three drugs tested was active against tissue cysts in chronically infected mice.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007933:Leucomycins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D007933:Leucomycins; D013411:Sulfadiazine; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole; D011739:Pyrimethamine