The use of azythromycin and N-methyl glucamine for the treatment of cutaneous Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in C57BL6 mice

BACKGROUND: The first choice treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis is N-methyl glucamine: it has high toxicity, requires parenteral adminstration and cure is not always reached. Azythromycin showed in vitro action and controversial results in humans with the disease. OBJECTIVE: To verify if the association of N-methyl glucamine - azythromycin is more effective than N-methyl glucamine alone for the treatment of experimental Leishmaniasis. METHODS: Twenty-five C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with L. (L.) amazonensis strain and divided into two groups. One group was treated with 400mgSbV/kg/day of N-methyl glucamine and 200mg/kg/day of azythromycin for 20 days and the other group received the same dose of N-methyl glucamine alone during the same period of time. Clinical and parasitological evaluations were submitted to statistical analyses. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in clinical anlaysis, in amastigotes investigation and in cultures. There were significant differences in cultures using limiting dilution, which showed lower efficacy of the association N-methyl glucamine -azythromycin. CONCLUSION: N-methyl glucamine-azythromycin association was not more effective than N-methyl glucamine alone.