Efficacies of four antifungal agents in experimental murine sporotrichosis.

Four antifungal agents, amphotericin B, SDZ 89-485, itraconazole, and terbinafine, were tested for efficacy in a murine model of systemic sporotrichosis. Survival in the groups treated with amphotericin B, SDZ 89-485, and itraconazole was significantly better than that of control infected mice. However, these agents did not wholly protect the infected mice, as tail and paw lesions, whole-body radiographs, and positive cultures from survivors showed evidence of dissemination. Terbinafine-treated mice had the same or poorer survival as control infected mice, despite documented drug absorption.