title: In vitro activity of Etanidazole against the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: We investigated the in vitro action of an hydrosoluble 2-nitroimidazole, Etanidazole (EZL), against Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. EZL displayed lethal activity against isolated trypomastigotes as well as amastigotes of T. cruzi (RA strain) growing in Vero cells or J774 macrophages, without affecting host cell viability. Although not completely equivalent to Benznidazole (BZL), the reference drug for Chagas chemotherapy, EZL takes advantage in exerting its anti-T. cruzi activity for longer periods without serious toxic side effects, as those recorded in BZL-treated patients. Our present results encourage further experiments to study in depth the trypanocidal properties of this drug already licensed for use in human cancers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Hospital de Niñios Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Gallo 1330, C1425EFD, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ppetray@conicet.gov.ar
authors.forename: Patricia B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Petray
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Morilla
authors.forename: Ricardo S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.forename: Eder L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D017341:Etanidazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects*; D014709:Vero Cells / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D017341:Etanidazole