Albendazole inhibits Pneumocystis carinii proliferation in inoculated immunosuppressed mice.
Albendazole, a benzimidazole derivative widely used for treating helminth infections, was successfully used to treat and prevent development of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in transtracheally inoculated immunosuppressed mice. For treatment, 3 weeks postinoculation, albendazole at 300 and 600 mg/kg of body weight per day was administered in food for 3 weeks. For prophylaxis, albendazole was begun on the same day as inoculation at 300 mg/kg/day for 7 days, and then the dose was reduced to 150 mg/kg/day for 35 additional days. With these regimens, albendazole was effective both for treatment and prophylaxis. Both dexamethasone-immunosuppressed and L3T4+ monoclonal antibody-immunosuppressed mouse models were used, and albendazole inhibited P. carinii infection in both.
Bartlett
M S
MS
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202.
Edlind
T D
TD
Lee
C H
CH
Dean
R
R
Queener
S F
SF
Shaw
M M
MM
Smith
J W
JW
D015766:Albendazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000187:drug effects*
D003907:Dexamethasone; D015766:Albendazole