title: Effects of anti-protozoal drugs and histopathological studies on trypanosome species.
abstract: The trypanosomostatic and trypanosomicidal effects of four anti-protozoal drugs, namely halofantrine hydrochloride, chloroquine phosphate, benzoylmetronidazole and pyrimethamine, on species of trypanosomes, viz. Trypanosoma brucei brucei (MBOS/NG/94/NITR) Bassa strain, T. congolense (MBOS/NG/93/NVRI) Zaria strain and T. brucei gambiense (MHOM/NG/92/NITR) Abraka strain, were investigated. In vitro and in vivo studies on these drugs vis-a-vis the parasites were carried out. The histopathological changes in organs and tissues of experimentally infected rats were also studied. Results from the in vitro studies indicated that halofantrine hydrochloride, chloroquine phosphate, benzoylmetronidazole and pyrimethamine appeared to be effective trypanosomicidal agents against T. brucei brucei (Bassa strain), T. congolense (Zaria strain) and T. brucei gambiense (Abraka strain). The in vivo studies showed that these drugs were sub-curative by prolonging the survival period of the trypanosome-infected rats, but not necessarily curing the infection. Histopathological findings indicated inflammatory reactions characterised by infiltration to variable degrees in the majority of tissues, mostly in the lungs and liver. The most consistent lesions were interstitial pneumonia, multifocal necrosis and oedema. Pathological findings showed the T. brucei brucei and T. brucei gambiense strains studied to be both intravascular and extravascular parasites. These results suggest that halofantrine hydrochloride, chloroquine phosphate, benzoylmetronidazole and pyrimethamine could be used as supportive, suppressive and/or synergistic/additive drugs in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis. Their effects on species of trypanosomes have been studied and are reported for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. jamiuo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ogunbanwo
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Agbonlahor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adamu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dalyop
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Elesha
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Fagbenro-Beyioku
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D010616:Phenanthrenes; C035348:benzoylmetronidazole; D008795:Metronidazole; D002738:Chloroquine; C023768:halofantrine; D011739:Pyrimethamine