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Comparative study of the efficacy of formulations containing fluconazole or paromomycin for topical treatment of infections by Leishmania (Leishmania) major and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

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Abstract

The development of alternative therapeutic approaches for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has received considerable attention in recent research, including the identification of formulations for topical treatment. In the present study, the activity of two formulations was evaluated in BALB/c mice experimentally infected with either Leishmania (Leishmania) major or L. (L.) amazonensis, a hydrophilic gel containing 10% paromomycin (PAHG) and a cream containing 1% fluconazole (FLUC). After development of ulcerated lesions, infected mice were divided into three groups of five animals each: (1) PA group: Lesions were covered with 50 μl of PAHG; (2) FLUC group: Lesions were covered with 50 μl of FLUC, and (3) placebo group: treated with gel without paromomycin. During and after treatment, the size of lesions was determined weekly using a caliper. The efficacy of PAHG was significantly higher than that observed for FLUC for both Leishmania species. The PAHG formulation was effective in promoting the healing of ulcers in all animals 28 days after the beginning of treatment, whereas none of the animals was cured by FLUC. These results suggest that the PAHG formulation could be suitable for clinical studies and may represent an alternative formulation for the topical treatment of CL.

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Acknowledgment

This work received financial support from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), CNPq and FUNDEP (UMFG). We declare that the experiments performed and presented in this report comply with the laws of the Federal Republic of Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceuticals, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Samuel Vidal Mussi & Lucas Antonio Miranda Ferreira

  2. Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Ana Paula Fernandes

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  1. Samuel Vidal Mussi
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  2. Ana Paula Fernandes
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  3. Lucas Antonio Miranda Ferreira
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Correspondence to Lucas Antonio Miranda Ferreira.

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Mussi, S.V., Fernandes, A.P. & Ferreira, L.A.M. Comparative study of the efficacy of formulations containing fluconazole or paromomycin for topical treatment of infections by Leishmania (Leishmania) major and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis . Parasitol Res 100, 1221–1226 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0394-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0394-6

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