COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF SELECTED AZOLE COMPOUNDS ON TROPHIC AND CYSTICSTAGES OF ACANTHAMOEBA-POLYPHAGA

A clinical isolate of Acanthamoeba polyphaga, associated with Acantham oeba keratitis, was used for in vitro evaluation of antiamebic activit y of selected azole compounds. Those antimicrobials tested included cl otrimazole, bifonazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole. T he drugs were tested at varying concentrations on axenic trophic ameba s and MgCl2-induced cysts. On the basis of their effects on the two st ages in the ameba life-cycle, clotrimazole and bifonazole were the mor e promising of the azoles screened but, at concentrations tested, were amebastatic rather than amebicidal. Other strains of A. polyphaga and species of Acanthamoeba were used for comparing variation in response to these and other antimicrobial agents.