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Megazol combined with suramin improves a new diagnosis index of the early meningo‐encephalitic phase of experimental African trypanosomiasis
Author(s) -
Darsaud Annabelle,
Chevrier Céline,
Bourdon Lionel,
Dumas Michel,
Buguet Alain,
Bouteille Bernard
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2003.01154.x
Subject(s) - suramin , african trypanosomiasis , trypanosomiasis , medicine , protozoal disease , virology , immunology , pathology , malaria , alternative medicine
Summary In human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), the parasites invade the central nervous system (CNS), leading to the development of meningo‐encephalitis and an irreversible demyelinating process, which kills the patient unless specific treatment is undertaken. Among the experimental trypanocides, the nitroimidazole derivative megazol alone at optimal doses does not cure late‐stage disease tested in mouse models, however the combination of suramin and megazol is able to cure infected mice without CNS involvement. We recently developed an experimental model of HAT with a sharp decrease in both the food intake and the body weight which may constitute an effective index of the early meningo‐encephalitic phase. Using this model, we tested this hypothesis by the exclusive effectiveness of a megazol and suramin combination treatment to eliminate CNS trypanosomes. Sprague–Dawley rats were infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei AnTat 1.1E. Food intake and body weight were measured daily from the day of infection to death. Haematocrite was measured twice a week. Treatment consisted of 20 mg suramin per kg body weight administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) alone, or three daily doses (80 mg/kg) of megazol given per os , or suramin (20 mg/kg, i.p.) followed 24 h later by three daily doses (80 mg/kg) of megazol given per os . Treatment was followed by an increase in daily body weight and food intake similar to those of the control animals, 2 weeks after treatment. The anaemia developed after infection is also cleared as shown by the haematocrite measurements. The rats treated with megazol alone died about 29 days after treatment and those treated with suramin, after about 26 days. Seven months later, no signs of relapse were seen in 10 of 12 rats treated with the therapeutic combination, indicating that this chemotherapy regimen was curative. The results support our previous finding, i.e. the decrease in body weight may constitute a diagnosis index of the early meningo‐encephalitic phase.