Efficacy of voriconazole in a murine model of acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection

GULIN JE; EAGLESON MA; POSTAM M; CUTRULLIS R; FREILIJ H; GARCÍA BOUNISSEN F; PETRAY P; ALTCHEH J

JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY

OXFORD UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2013 p. 888 - 894

0305-7453

OBJECTIVES: Antifungal triazole derivatives have been studied as possible alternatives for the treatment of Chagas´ disease. Voriconazole has demonstrated in vitro activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, but its efficacy in vivo has not yet been tested. We aimed to determine the effect of voriconazole in a murine model of acute T. cruzi infection. METHODS: Treatment efficacy was evaluated by comparing parasitaemia, mortality and organ involvement (by histological examination) of infected mice. RESULTS: Treatment with voriconazole significantly lowered parasitaemia and mortality compared with controls, reduced the percentage of mice with amastigote nests in heart and skeletal muscle and moderately decreased myocardial inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the potential of voriconazole for the treatment of acute Chagas´ disease and motivate future animal studies using varying doses and treatment schemes. Further evaluation of voriconazole for clinical use in human Chagas´ patients is warranted