N-METHYLGLUCAMINE ANTIMONATE (SBV- INTRALESIONAL CANINE TEGUMENTARY LEISHMANIASIS THERAPY() )

Twenty five adult dogs oi three municipalities of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that had been naturally infected by L. (V) braziliens is were treated with N-methylglucamine antimonate (Glucantime(R)). Nin e of the animals (36.0%) presented ulcerated skin lesions, twelve (48. 0%) had mucosal lesions and four (16,0%) had multiple lesions, in some cases the mucosal lesions were associated to skin lesions. A dose of 85 mg SbV+ or 1 ml of the drug was intralesionally administered to the dogs. The animals were divided into three groups according to the amo unt of necessary doses (between one and three) for the complete healin g oi the lesions. The dogs were observed for six months after the thir d group received the last dose. Within this period two animals perishe d. Serial antibody evaluation through IFAT has shown that in 14 sample s (63.3%) the titers have remained unaltered, in jour of them (16%) th ere has been a decrease in two liters and in jive of them (21%) serolo gy was negative. Nineteen of the dogs (86.6%) had their lesions comple tely healed. The authors suggest intralesional therapy be the first ch oice of treatment oi canine tegumentary leishmaniasis due to its effec tiveness.