title: Effect of caspofungin on trophozoites and cysts of three species of Acanthamoeba.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, CHU La Milètrie, BP 577, 86021 Poitiers Cedex, France. s.bouyer@chu-poitiers.fr
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouyer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imbert
authors.forename: Gyslaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daniault
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cateau
authors.forename: Marie-Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rodier
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D000077336:Caspofungin