ISSN:
1550-7408
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Certain polyoxyethylene ethers, derived from p-tert.-octylphenol and representatives of series which have activity against murine tuberculosis and leprosy were tested in several protozoal infections. Triton WR-1339 represented the series in which the phenolic groups are arranged linearly while HOC-12½ and LOC-60 represented series in which the phenolic groups were condensed into a cyclic structure. WR-1339 was found to be active against infections with Trypanosoma gambiense, T. rhodesiense, T. brucei, T. congolense, and T. equipevdum in mice, and against Leishmania donovani in the golden hamster. The “macrocyclic” HOC-12:4 also had activity, but of a much lower order, against the first three trypanosome infections listed, and in leishmaniasis it had activity equivalent to that of WR-1339. Neither of these compounds was active against Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium berghei nor Toxoplasma gondii in mice, nor against Leptospira icterohemorrhagiae in guinea pigs. The other macrocyclic compound, LOC-60, was inactive in the infections in which it was tested (T. congolense and T. rhodesiense).Although the action of the polyoxyethylene hers in murine tuberculosis and leprosy had been reported to be an indirect one, affecting the host rather than the mycobacteria (which are said to be resistant to these materials in vitro) it was found that the differential effects in trypanosomiasis, observed with WR-1339 (which had good activity in vivo) and HOC-12½ (which had poor activity in v i v o), were well correlated with their effects in vitro. In the light of the strength of the dilutions which killed T. congolense in the t a t tube and the blood levels of WR-1339 obtaining after medication the control of the infection could be attributed to the direct action of the compound on the parasite although some indirect effect on the host, perhaps of the nature of reticulo-endothelial stimulation, could not be excluded.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1960.tb05985.x
Permalink
