title: Activity of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum.
abstract: Thirteen dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum showing viscero-cutaneous signs of disease were treated with different dosages of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome). The animals were followed clinically and parasitologically over a period of eight months. Dogs which received three to five administrations of AmBisome 3-3.3 mg/kg showed rapid clinical improvement, with regression of lymphadenomegaly and splenomegaly, and cure of skin lesions. The clinical response was similar to that obtained with 14-21 doses of conventional antileishmanial drugs. However, follow-up lymph node aspirates remained positive for Leishmania in all dogs except one, which was treated with the total dose of AmBisome 15 mg/kg. The failure in parasitological cure may be due to inadequate drug targeting to parasitized cells, or to T-cell immune depression characteristic of patent cases of canine leishmaniasis, or to both.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica Veterinaria, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gradoni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciaramella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Luna
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Persechino
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000201:enzymology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000662:veterinary*; D008081:Liposomes; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008081:Liposomes; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B