title: Evaluation of trypanocidal drugs used for human African trypanosomosis against Trypanosoma lewisi.
abstract: Trypanosomes from animals are potential pathogens for humans. Several human cases infected by Trypanosoma lewisi, a parasite of rats, have been reported. The number of these infections is possibly underestimated. Some infections were self-cured, others required treatment with drugs used in human African trypanosomosis. An in vitro evaluation of these drugs and fexinidazole, a new oral drug candidate, has been performed against T. lewisi in comparison with T. brucei gambiense. All have comparable activities against the two parasites. Suramin was not effective. In vivo, drugs were tested in rats immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide. The best efficacy was obtained for fexinidazole, and pentamidine (15 mg/kg): rats were cured in 7 and 10 days respectively. Rats receiving nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) or pentamidine (4 mg/kg) were cured after 28 days, while melarsoprol was weakly active. The identification of efficient drugs with reduced toxicity will help in the management of new cases of atypical trypanosomosis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, BP 43, UMR 177 IRD CIRAD Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Mariette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dethoua
authors.forename: Romaric
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nzoumbou-Boko
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Truc
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daulouède
authors.forename: Pierrette
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtois
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bucheton
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuny
authors.forename: Silla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Semballa
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vincendeau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008549:Melarsoprol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D009547:Nifurtimox / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013498:Suramin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014350:Trypanosoma lewisi / Q000187:drug effects*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; C038307:fexinidazole; D013498:Suramin; D010419:Pentamidine; D009547:Nifurtimox; D008549:Melarsoprol; D000518:Eflornithine