ABSTRACT
The polar hydroethanolic extract from Selaginella sellowii(SSPHE) has been previously proven active on intracellular amastigotes (in vitro test) and now was tested on hamsters infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis (in vivo test). SSPHE suppressed a 100% of the parasite load in the infection site and draining lymph nodes at an intralesional dose of 50 mg/kg/day × 5, which was similar to the results observed in hamsters treated with N-methylglucamine antimonate (Sb) (28 mg/Kg/day × 5). When orally administered, SSPHE (50 mg/kg/day × 20) suppressed 99.2% of the parasite load in infected footpads, while Sb suppressed 98.5%. SSPHE also enhanced the release of nitric oxide through the intralesional route in comparison to Sb. The chemical fingerprint of SSPHE by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and tandem mass spectrometry showed the presence of biflavonoids and high molecular weight phenylpropanoid glycosides. These compounds may have a synergistic action in vivo. Histopathological study revealed that the intralesional treatment with SSPHE induced an intense inflammatory infiltrate, composed mainly of mononuclear cells. The present findings reinforce the potential of this natural product as a source of future drug candidates for American cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cricetinae , Male , Antiprotozoal Agents/pharmacology , Leishmania/drug effects , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Selaginellaceae/chemistry , Administration, Oral , Antiprotozoal Agents/isolation & purification , Biflavonoids/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Drainage , Foot/parasitology , Glycosides/chemistry , Infusions, Intralesional , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/parasitology , Macrophages/parasitology , Meglumine/administration & dosage , Nitric Oxide/analysis , Organometallic Compounds/administration & dosage , Parasite Load , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Solvents , Tandem Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
Leishmania (L.) tropica is a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis, and occasionally of visceral or viscerotropic leishmaniasis in humans. Murine models of Leishmania infection have been proven to be useful for elucidation of mechanisms for pathogenesis and immunity in leishmaniasis. The aim of this study was to establish a murine model for human viscerotropic leishmaniasis, and the growth pattern of L. tropica was studied in different tissues of BALB/c mice in order to find out whether the parasite visceralizes in this murine model. L. major was used as a control as this species is known to cause a progressive infection in BALB/c mice. L. tropica or L. major was injected into the footpad of mice, and thickness of footpad, parasite loads in different tissues, and the weight of the spleen and lymph node were determined at different intervals. Results showed that L. tropica visceralizes to the spleen and grows there while its growth is controlled in footpad tissues. Dissemination of L. tropica to visceral organs in BALB/c mice was similar to the growth patterns of this parasite in human viscerotropic leishmaniasis. The BALB/c model of L. tropica infection may be considered as a good experimental model for human diseases.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Humans , Mice , Disease Models, Animal , Foot/parasitology , Leishmania major/growth & development , Leishmania tropica/growth & development , Leishmaniasis/parasitology , Lymph Nodes/parasitology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Organ Size , Spleen/parasitologySubject(s)
Humans , Male , Foot/parasitology , Pruritus , Ivermectin , Eosinophilia , Skin/pathology , Lung/pathologyABSTRACT
Las dermatofitosis (invasión de pelo, piel y/o uñas por dermatofitos) tienen una frecuencia de 7,5-61 por ciento en la población general, la más frecuente es la tiña pedis o pie de atleta. La condición de portador de dermatofitos en pacientes hospitalizados puede constituir una fuente potencial de infección para los pacientes y personal que comparten utensilios y baños. Para determinar la frecuencia de dermatofitos en hospitalizados, se estudiaron 66 pacientes ingresados al Servicio de Medicina, Hospital del Salvador entre julio y septiembre de 1991. Se tomaron muestras por raspado, del tercero y cuarto espacio interortejo de los pies, efectuando examen directo con KOH al 20 por ciento y cultivo en agar Sabouraud glucosado al 2 por ciento y agar Lactritmel. En 7 pacientes (10,6 por ciento), se detectó una dermatofitosis y 5 eran portadores sanos (7,6 por ciento). Los dermatofitos aislados fueron: trichophyton rubrum, trichophyton mentagrophytes. Del total de pacientes, 23 tenían como base patologías metabólicas o neoplásicas y en ellos la frecuencia de dermatofitos fue más elevada (30,4 por ciento). Estos resultados sugieren que la dermatofitosis podría constituir una infección intrahospitalaria y que es necesario estudiar la infección por dermatofitos y reforzar las medidas profilácticas (aseo de baños, pisos, uso individual de elementos de aseo personal) para evitar su transmisión en pacientes hospitalizados