Efficacy of aminosidine administered alone or in combination with meglumine antimoniate for the treatment of experimental visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum.

BALB/c mice with an experimental visceral leishmaniasis produced by Leishmania infantum were treated with aminosidine sulphate alone or combined with meglumine antimoniate. Parasite burdens in the liver and spleen were determined by subculturings using a sensitive microtitration method. Treatments with aminosidine alone decreased the parasite burdens compared with those observed in the untreated mice, but were less efficacious than meglumine antimoniate. Aminosidine combined with meglumine antimoniate resulted in an increased efficacy compared with either drug given alone. However, these regimens were associated with toxicities and with persistence of hepatic and splenic leishmanial foci after drug administrations.