Protection of guinea pigs against cutaneous leishmaniasis by combined infection and chemotherapy.

A paromomycin and methylbenzethonium chloride ointment cured Leishmania enriettii infections in guinea pigs. Amastigotes were totally eliminated from the treated lesion after 10 days of treatment. A delayed effect also occurred on untreated lesions in the same animals. Lesions treated at various times after infection permitted protective immunity to develop, and 90% of treated animals were refractory to reinfection.