title: Pentamycin shows high efficacy against Trichomonas vaginalis.
abstract: Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of the venereal disease trichomoniasis, which is the most frequent non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. Since the 1960s, metronidazole has been the standard treatment, however an increasing number of cases with metronidazole-resistant strains is being reported. In this study, pentamycin, a polyene antibiotic, was tested for its in vitro efficacy against T. vaginalis using four strains with different metronidazole susceptibilities. It was shown that pentamycin is highly active against T. vaginalis and that the effect is prompt and independent of underlying metronidazole resistance. The effective concentrations (EC values) after 1 h of treatment were in the range 1.74-2.62 μg/mL (EC50) and 4.91-6.51 μg/mL (EC90). Total eradication of trichomonads (EC100) was achieved in all strains by treatment with 15 μg/mL (22 μM) for 1 h or with ≥1 μg/mL (≥1.5 μM) for 24 h. Long-term cultivation (12 months) under permanent drug pressure did not induce stable resistance against pentamycin in any of the strains tested. Pentamycin has been approved for intravaginal use and is a promising candidate for the topical treatment of trichomoniasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Institute of Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kranzler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Bio Products, Landstraße 4, 2000 Stockerau, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Syrowatka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leitsch
authors.affiliation: Lumavita AG, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cornelis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Winnips
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: Julia.walochnik@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walochnik
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D011090:Polyenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D011090:Polyenes; C011827:fungichromin
keywords: In vitro; Metronidazole; Pentamycin; Polyene; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomoniasis