In vivo activity of sertaconazole in experimental dermatophytosis in guinea pigs.

The comparative curative effect of 7-chloro-3-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1H- imidazol-1-yl)ethoxy-methyl]benzo [b]thiophene (sertaconazole, FI-7045, CAS 99592-32-2) (SZ) and miconazole (MZ) 2% creams in a model of dermatomycosis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes in guinea pigs was studied. Two treatments of different duration (12 and 3 days) were applied, and their efficacy versus infected and untreated animals (control group) was evaluated according to clinical parameters (degree of alopecia and lesion) and microbiological healing (recovery of T. mentagrophytes from hair pulled from the infected site). The therapeutic effect resulting from the application of the creams for 12 days was excellent and similar for both test creams; however, the application of SZ cream for 3 days had greater therapeutic effect than MZ cream according to the improvement of clinical symptoms and microbiological healing.