PP-167 Anti-leishmanial effects of paromomycin in both cutaneous and visceral forms of Leishmania major infection in Balb/c mice

Abstract

Background: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by leishmania parasites. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is still one of the health problems in tropical areas and Iran. In this study, paromomycin was applied for the treatment of CL in vivo in Balb/c mice infected with Leishmania major in order to study its anti-leishmanial effects, inhibition of visceralization, reduction of lesion size and proliferation of anastigotes. Methods: Experimental CL was initiated by injection of promastigotes into the Balb/c mice followed by a small nodule which converted to a lesion. The progress of lesion size was measured weekly. After Paromomycin injection, patho-physiological manifestations and side effects were assessed frequently. Finally, all mice were killed by terminal anesthesia and target tissues were removed, weighted, their impression smears prepared and stained for detection of amastigotes. The proliferation of amastigotes was evaluated by counting them inside five random macrophages and mean percentages were calculated as degree of proliferation. Pathological changes in treated mice, presence of amastigotes in target organs and their proliferation were also evaluated. Results: Although, lesion size in control group had an increase trend, it has reduced in test groups, particularly high concentration showed an anti-leishmanial activity with a significant reduction of lesion size. Both hepatomegaly and splenomegaly have been decreased in test groups. Conclusion: The evaluation of anti-leishmanial effects of paromomomycin and its inhibition of visceralization was succeeded in L .major infected Balb/c mice. Therefore, injectable paromomycin is introduced as a relevant therapy for the treatment in rodent model of CL.