The activity of nitrofurazone and furazolidone against Leishmania donovani, L. major and L. enriettii in vitro and in vivo.

Furazolidone and nitrofurazone showed in vitro activity against amastigotes of Leishmania donovani, L. enriettii and L. major in macrophages, at concentrations which were also toxic to the macrophages. A low grade of activity was observed against L. donovani infections in BALB/c mice by furazolidone but not with nitrofurazone. Nitrofurazone, in two concentrations, was not active when applied to the lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L. enriettii (guinea-pig infection) or L. major strain P (BALB/c mouse infection). After systemic administration to BALB/c mice infected with L. major strain JISH 252 clone 1, low-grade activity was observed at the highest level tested.