title: The activity of azithromycin against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in the golden hamster model.
abstract: New therapeutic alternatives against leishmaniasis remain a priority. The activity of azithromycin against Leishmania (Leishmania) major has been previously demonstrated. Different responses among species of Leishmania make species-specific drug screening necessary. The activity of azithromycin against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis was evaluated in golden hamsters infected through footpad injections of metacyclic promastigotes, and compared with untreated controls and animals treated with meglumine antimoniate. Footpad thickness, lesion cultures and dissemination sites were analyzed. Treatment of golden hamsters with oral azithromycin at 450mg/kg had no activity against infections with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. For infections due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, azithromycin demonstrated significant activity relative to untreated controls, but inferior to meglumine antimoniate, for controlling lesion size. Neither drug was able to totally eliminate parasites from the lesions. It was concluded that azithromycin has activity against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis but not against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in this model.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinagra
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Maria del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Iannella
authors.forename: Adelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riarte
authors.forename: Alejandro J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Krolewiecki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000187:drug effects*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D017963:Azithromycin