TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficacy of Azithromycin for Treating Babesia microti Infection in the Hamster Model
AU - Tanowitz, Herbert B.
AU - Weiss, Louis M.
AU - Wittner, Murray
AU - Wasserman, Scott
AU - Oz, Helieh S.
AU - Retsema, James
N1 - Funding Information:
Received 5 May 1993; revised 21 June 1993. Presented in part: 91st Meeting ofthe American Society for Microbiology. Dallas. May 1991 (abstract A68). Animal studies were done under National Institutes ofHeaIth guidelines. Financial support: Pfizer Inc. Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Herbert B. Tanowitz, Dept. of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave.• Bronx, New York 10461.
PY - 1993/12
Y1 - 1993/12
N2 - Because of its prevalence and severity, Babesia microti infection is an important public health problem. The current treatment of choice is clindamycin plus quinine. However, in some cases other treatments are needed because of drug intolerance or relapse. The activity of azithromycin was investigated for treatment of babesiosis in the hamster model. All animals received vancomycin to prevent antibiotic-associated colitis. Quinine (250 mg/kg/day), azithromycin (150 mg/kg/day), and the combination of azithromycin and quinine were compared. A significant suppression of parasitemia was found in all treatment groups (combination had the greatest effect, followed by azithromycin, then quinine; P <.05). The mean survival was significantly prolonged in the combination group (P <.05). Azithromycin as monotherapy in a higher dose (300 mg/kg/day) also resulted in a significant prolongation of survival (P <.05). Spirogermanium and ciproftoxacin, which have been reported to have antimalarial activity, had no effect on parasitemia or survival in this experimental babesiosis model.
AB - Because of its prevalence and severity, Babesia microti infection is an important public health problem. The current treatment of choice is clindamycin plus quinine. However, in some cases other treatments are needed because of drug intolerance or relapse. The activity of azithromycin was investigated for treatment of babesiosis in the hamster model. All animals received vancomycin to prevent antibiotic-associated colitis. Quinine (250 mg/kg/day), azithromycin (150 mg/kg/day), and the combination of azithromycin and quinine were compared. A significant suppression of parasitemia was found in all treatment groups (combination had the greatest effect, followed by azithromycin, then quinine; P <.05). The mean survival was significantly prolonged in the combination group (P <.05). Azithromycin as monotherapy in a higher dose (300 mg/kg/day) also resulted in a significant prolongation of survival (P <.05). Spirogermanium and ciproftoxacin, which have been reported to have antimalarial activity, had no effect on parasitemia or survival in this experimental babesiosis model.
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U2 - 10.1093/infdis/168.5.1289
DO - 10.1093/infdis/168.5.1289
M3 - Article
C2 - 8228366
AN - SCOPUS:0027378104
SN - 0022-1899
VL - 168
SP - 1289
EP - 1292
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 5
ER -
