title: Topical chemotherapy for experimental African trypanosomiasis with cerebral involvement: the use of melarsoprol combined with the 5-nitroimidazole, megazol.
abstract: Megazol, one of a number of related 5-nitroimidazoles, can be dissolved in dimethylsulphoxide and the solution can be converted into a gel by the addition of hydroxypropylcellulose which facilitates the ease and accuracy of administration. This megazol gel, when used in combination with melarsoprol (3.6%) in propylene glycol gel, will cure experimental CNS-trypanosomiasis in mice. A single application of 0.1 ml of melarsoprol (3.6%) gel plus 0.1 ml of either 8 or 16 mg/ml megazol gel successfully treated experimental CNS-trypanosomiasis while two consecutive days' treatment with 0.05 ml melarsoprol and 0.1 ml of 16 or 32 mg/ml megazol gels also produced satisfactory cures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chauvière
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viode
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D008549:Melarsoprol; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D013830:Thiadiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D013830:Thiadiazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; C013378:megazol; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D008549:Melarsoprol