Evaluation of amphotericin B as a first line drug in comparison to sodium stibogluconate in the treatment of fresh cases of kala-azar.

A total of 150 patients of kala-azar matched for age and sex and parasitologically proved were randomly allocated to two equal treatment groups. Patients in one group received amphotericin B(AMB) in a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight (BW) on alternate days starting with 0.05 mg/kg/bw on first day with daily increments, till a total dose of 20 mg/kg/bw was given; the patients in the second group received sodium stibogluconate (SAG) in the dose of 20 mg/kg/bw, im daily for 30 days. The efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of the two drugs were compared. Apparent cure (afebrile at the end of therapy) in 75 (100%) and 69 (92%) patients and ultimate cure (no relapse in six months of follow up) in 75 (100%) and 60 (80%) patients occurred in the AMB and SAG groups respectively. The difference between the ultimate cure in the two groups was significant (P < 0.001). Six (8%) and 9(12%) patients of SAG group showed primary (with no response to SAG during treatment) and secondary unresponsiveness (with no response to SAG after relapse) respectively and they were cured with amphotericin B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) with aminosidine (= paromomycin)-antimonial combinations, a pilot study in Bihar, India.

A 20 d drug regimen of aminosidine (= paromomycin) at 12 mg/kg/d in combination with sodium stibogluconate at 20 mg/kg/d proved efficacious and well-tolerated in patients with visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Bihar, India. Eighteen of 22 evaluable patients achieved an ultimate cure. The remaining 4 patients, although not cleared of parasites, had their parasite grade reduced and also improved clinically. This confirms prior findings in Kenyan patients with kala-azar, and indicates that this regimen is a valid alternative to antimonial compounds alone in the State of Bihar, where cases of kala-azar not responding to antimonial drugs and intolerant of pentamidine are increasingly recorded.

Serologic survey of leptospiral antibodies in horses in California.

A serologic survey was made of the prevalence of common leptospiral infections in horses in California. A total of 465 serums were tested, using the microscopic agglutination method, against 5 leptospiral serotypes: Leptospira pomona, Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, Leptospira canicola, Leptospira grippotyphosa, and Leptospira hardjo. Of the serums tested, 127 (27.30%) were positive against 1 or more of the leptospires, with percentage distribution among the reactors as follows: L pomona, 12.47%; L icterohaemorrhagiae, 10.32%; L canicola, 3.22%; L grippotyphosa, 0.86%; and L hardjo, 0.43%. The prevalence of reactors to leptospiral antigens did not differ with the age or sex of the animals.

Equine toxoplasmosis: a survey for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in horses.

A nationwide sample of horses was tested to determine the prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies in equine animals. Of 1,294 serum samples from horses tested by the microtitration indirect hemagglutin test, 20% were positive. Among the popular breeds of horses, the following antibody prevalences were found: Arabian, 19%; Paint, 22%; Quarter Horses, 13%; Thoroughbred, 24%; and Standardbred, 17%. The antibody prevalence increased from 2% in horses 1 year of age to 18% in 2-year-olds, and rose to 38% in horses 12 years of age. Significant differences were not evident by broad geographic locations across the United States. However, there were differences in prevalence according to premises where the horses were kept. On some ranches, there was no evidence of infection, whereas up to 67% of the horses on other premises were seropositive for toxoplasmosis.