title: Evaluation of a Novel Herbal Immunomodulator Drug (IMOD) in Treatment of Experimental Canine Visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: Toxicity and drug resistance against pentavalent antimonials, medications of choice in treatment of leishmaniasis for more than 5 decades, have become important subjects globally. This study was a randomized, open labeled trial that was designed to determine efficacy and safety of IMOD as a novel herbal immunomodulator drug for treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Twenty healthy mongrel dogs were infected with Iranian strain of L. Infantum amastigotes and randomly divided to 5 groups with four animals for each included on: I: negative control (non-infected) II: Glucantime® III: Glucantime® plus IMOD (immune-chemotherapy) IV: IMOD and V: positive control (non-treated). Physical examination, hematological, biochemical, serological, parasitological, pathological and imaging evaluations were performed pre-/post- interventions every month for 3 months. Comparing with control groups (I&V), immune-chemotherapy group (Glucantime® plus IMOD) showed significantly higher efficacy in resolving the clinical signs and hematobiochemistry factors. Based on our results, using IMOD in combination with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®) has significantly improved CVL than the latter drug alone. So, it seems this new herbal medicine is useful as adjuvant therapy for canine visceral leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malmasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ziaie Ardestani
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akhoundi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ziaie
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masoudifard
authors.affiliation: Genetic Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khorram Khorshid
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasiri
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDs (IRCHA), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayanolhagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mostafavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Moin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delrobai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Siences, University of Gilan, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siavashi
keywords: Dog; IMOD; Meglumine antimoniate; Treatment; Visceral leishmaniasis