Suramin and minocycline treatment of experimental African trypanososmiasis at an early stage of parasite brain invasion.

Abstract

The effect of treatment on relapses of Trypanosoma brucei (T. b.) brucei infections in mice in relation to passage of the parasites across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as visualized by immunohistochemistry was studied. Three daily intraperitoneal injections of 20mg/kg suramin starting at 15 days post-infection (p.i.), when trypanosomes had begun to traverse the BBB, were curative, but not when starting at 21 days p.i. when parasite brain invasion was more pronounced. Relapses occurred in all mice after one or two daily injections of suramin starting at 15 days p.i., but they were delayed when treatment was supplemented with minocycline, which impedes penetration of T. b. brucei into the brain. This study supports the notion that suramin may be effective even when minor parasite neuroinvasion has appeared in African trypanosomiasis and it shows that minocyline can affect relapses of the disease.

• Authors: Daniel Ndem Amin, Willias Masocha, Kalungwana Ngan'dwe, Martin Rottenberg, Krister Kristensson
• Journal: Acta tropica (Acta Trop) Vol. 106 Issue 1 Pg. 72-4 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 0001-706X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 18329619 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Suramin
• Minocycline

Topics

• Animals
• Antiprotozoal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Brain (parasitology)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Minocycline (therapeutic use)
• Secondary Prevention
• Suramin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Time Factors
• Trypanosoma brucei brucei (drug effects)
• Trypanosomiasis, African (drug therapy)