Benznidazole, itraconazole, and their combination for the treatment of chronic experimental Chagas disease in dogs.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Treatment for Chagas disease has limited efficacy in the chronic phase. We evaluated benznidazole (BZ) and
itraconazole (ITZ) individually and in association in dogs 16 months after infection with a BZ-resistant Trypa-
nosoma cruzi strain. Four study groups (20 animals) were evaluated and treated for 60 days with BZ, ITZ, or BZ
+ ITZ, and maintained in parallel to control group infected and not treated (INT). All dogs were evaluated in the
first, sixth, 12th, 18th and 24th months of study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was negative in 2 of 3 animals
in the BZ + ITZ group, 2 of 5 in the BZ group, and 4 of 5 in the ITZ group. Hemoculture performed in the 24th
month was negative in all groups. Enzyme-linked immunoassay remained reactive in all treated animals.
Echocardiography differentiated treated animals from control animals. Quantitative PCR analysis of cardiac
tissue was negative in the BZ + ITZ and BZ groups, positive in 2 of 5 dogs in the ITZ group and in 2 of 3 dogs in
the control group, but negative in colon tissue in all groups. Inflammation was significantly reduced in the right
atrium and left ventricle of dogs treated with BZ + ITZ and BZ compared with those receiving ITZ alone. Fibrosis
was absent in most dogs treated with BZ + ITZ, mild in those treated with BZ or ITZ alone, and intense in the
control group. Parasitological and histopathological evaluations showed that BZ + ITZ treatment improved or
stabilized the clinical condition of the dogs.
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Keywords
Chemotherapy, Drug combinations, Dog model
Citation
CUNHA, E. L. A. et al. Benznidazole, itraconazole, and their combination for the treatment of chronic experimental Chagas disease in dogs. Experimental Parasitology, v. 238, 2022. Disponível em: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014489422000601?via%3Dihub>. Acesso em: 11 out. 2022.