Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Activity of doxorubicin against Leishmania tropica

3^rd International Congress on Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

August 04-06, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Ahmad Alali and Mohammad Maarouf

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of doxorubicin (Known antitumor agent, topoisomerase �?�? poison)
against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropicain vitro and in vivo, in view of the developmental resistance against
pentavalent antimonials.
Methods: ELISA technique and in vitro model of Leishmania infection were used to evaluate the potency of doxorubicin against
promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes respectively. In addition, in vivo model of Leishmania infection was used to evaluate
the efficacy of doxorubicin in curing the cutaneous lesions in mice.
Results: The potency of doxorubicin was identified with IC50 value of (4.25±0.2 μM) against Leishmania tropica promastigotes
after in vitro incubation at 26�?C for 48 hours. Doxorubicin was identified as active against Leishmania tropica intracellular
amastigotes in peritoneal BALB/c mice macrophages with IC50 value of (3.34±0.2 μM) after incubation at 37�?C with 5% CO2
for 48 hours. In addition, doxorubicin was strongly effective in eradicating cutaneous lesions in the left feet of BALB/c mice
previously infected by Leishmania tropica promastigotes. After 24 hours and 4 weeks of single peritoneal dose, the difference
in diameters between infected feet and healthy feet was reduced to (0.018±0.008 mm) compared with untreated control mice
(Pvalues: 2.6×10-5 and 9.8×10-8 respectively). Interferon-gamma was 287.9±23.4 pg/mL in treated serum mice after one week
of single peritoneal dose (Pvalue=9.2×10-7) compared with untreated control mice.
Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that doxorubicin may be a promising, effective and safe management of cutaneous
leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica by single dose with no relapse or unpleasant cytotoxic side effects.