title: Effect of topical 0.5% povidone-iodine compared to 5% natamycin in fungal keratitis caused by Fusarium solani in a rabbit model: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of topical administration of 0.5% povidone-iodine in experimental Fusarium solani keratitis in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fungal keratitis caused by Fusarium solani was induced in the right eye of 24 New Zealand rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into 3 different treatment groups: Group I (povidone-iodine) - treated with topical 0.5% povidone-iodine; Group II (natamycin) - treated with topical 5% natamycin; and Group III (control) - treated with topical saline solution. In all groups the rabbits were treated for three days and then sacrificed. The corneas were excised, macerated and immersed in 10 mL BHI. Culture samples were plated daily on Sabouraud's agar for 7 days, and the number of colony-forming units (CFU) was counted. The rabbits were clinically evaluated during the treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The povidone-iodine and natamycin groups demonstrated better efficacy than the control group based on the number of rabbits with no colonies growing. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups when the number of CFU was analyzed (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates important methodological considerations in the use of in vivo animal models for the testing of antifungal agents. Using this sample size and methodology of counting CFU, topical 0.5% povidone-iodine demonstrated no benefit in the treatment of experimental Fusarium solani when compared with topical 5% natamycin.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo - São Paulo (SP) - Brazil. laopadilha@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Lauro Augusto de
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Thales Takeo
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: Alvio Isao
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Shiguematsu
authors.forename: Luiz Alberto Soares
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Melo Júnior
authors.forename: Olga Fischman
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Gompertz
authors.forename: Luciene Barbosa de
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mannis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005670:Fusarium / Q000254:growth & development; D007634:Keratitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D010866:Natamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D010866:Natamycin