SECNIDAZOLE VS. PAROMOMYCIN - COMPARATIVE ANTIPROTOZOAN TREATMENT IN CAPTIVE PRIMATES

The antiprotozoan activity of secnidazole was studied in Cercocebus t. torquatus, Cercopithecus campbelli, Erythrocebus patas (Cercopithecid ae), and Gorilla gorilla (Pongidae) compared with that of paromomycin in Cercocebus t. lunulatus (Cercopithecidae), E. paras, and G. gorilla (Pongidae) by coprological analysis. The antiprotozoan activity of bo th drugs depended on the parasite species and the host species. The dr ugs acted in a similar way on Entamoeba coli parasitising C. t. torqua tus, and E. paras. This activity was different from that observed on I . buestchlii from the same host species. Nevertheless, E. coli parasit ising cercopithecids and pongids responded to drugs differently.