Effect of caspofungin on trophozoites and cysts of three species of Acanthamoeba.
OBJECTIVE
Amoebic keratitis is difficult to treat, without total efficacy in some patients because of cysts that are less susceptible than trophozoites to the usual treatments. We investigated here the in vitro effectiveness of caspofungin, a new antifungal, against three species of Acanthamoeba.


METHODS
Trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba castellanii, Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and Acanthamoeba polyphaga were incubated with caspofungin at concentrations varying from 16 to 500 mg/L.


RESULTS
The trophozoites of the three tested species were susceptible in vitro to caspofungin at a concentration of 250 mg/L (206 microM). Furthermore, this drug was cysticidal at a concentration of 500 mg/L (412 microM) against A. castellanii and A. culbertsoni.


CONCLUSIONS
Caspofungin could represent, if in vivo studies confirm its efficacy, a new anti-Acanthamoeba compound.
Bouyer
Sabrina
S
Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, CHU La Milètrie, BP 577, 86021 Poitiers Cedex, France. s.bouyer@chu-poitiers.fr
Imbert
Christine
C
Daniault
Gyslaine
G
Cateau
Estelle
E
Rodier
Marie-Hélène
MH
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000187:drug effects*; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000077336:Caspofungin; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000187:drug effects*
D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D000077336:Caspofungin