TRYPANOCIDAL VALUE OF LIPOSOMAL DIMINAZENE IN EXPERIMENTAL TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI EVANSI INFECTION IN MICE

The trypanocidal value of liposomal diminazene was examined. Three hun dred mice were divided randomly into six groups of 50 mice each. Group s 1, 2 and 3 were pretreated 2 h before Trypanosoma brucei evansi chal lenge with 0.2 ml saline solution, 0.2 ml diminazene solution (5 mg ml (-1)) and 0.2 ml liposomal solution (5 mg diminazene per ml), respecti vely. Mice in Group 1 all died within 6 days, 33 in Group 2 and four i n Group 3 died within 15 days after challenge, respectively. Groups 4, 5, and 6 were treated 4 days after T. b. evansi challenge with 0.2 ml saline solution 0.2 ml diminazene solution (5 mg ml(-1)) and 0.2 ml l iposomal solution (5 mg diminazene per ml), respectively. Mice in Grou p 4 all died within 6 days, 19 in Group 5 and two in group 6 died with in 15 days after challenge, respectively. The remaining mice survived for more than 30 days, were symptom-free and behaved normally. No adve rse effects associated with treatment were noted.