title: Flucytosine+fluconazole association in the treatment of a murine experimental model of cryptococcosis.
abstract: The efficacy of flucytosine (5-FC) and fluconazole (FLU) association in the treatment of a murine experimental model of cryptococcosis, was evaluated. Seven groups of 10 Balb C mice each, were intraperitoneally inoculated with 10(7) cells of Cryptococcus neoformans. Six groups were allocated to receive 5-FC (300 mg/kg) and FLU (16 mg/kg), either combined and individually, by daily gavage beginning 5 days after the infection, for 2 and 4 weeks. One group received distilled water and was used as control. The evaluation of treatments was based on: survival time; macroscopic examination of brain, lungs, liver and spleen at autopsy; presence of capsulated yeasts in microscopic examination of wet preparations of these organs and cultures of brain homogenate. 5-FC and FLU, individually or combined, significantly prolonged the survival time of the treated animals with respect to the control group (p < 0.01). Animals treated for 4 weeks survived significantly longer than those treated for 2 weeks (p < 0.01). No significant differences between the animals treated with 5-FC and FLU combined or separately were observed in the survival time and morphological parameters. The association of 5-FC and FLU does not seem to be more effective than 5-FC or FLU alone, in the treatment of this experimental model of cryptococcosis.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay, Argentina.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bava
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Negroni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
chemical_list: D015725:Fluconazole; D005437:Flucytosine