Chemotherapeutic studies on Litomosoides carinii infection of Mastomys natalensis. 3. The activity of drugs against adult parasites.

Comparative studies of the chemotherapeutic activity of various filaricides were carried out and the results in Litomosoides carinii infections of Mastomys natalensis were analysed with special reference to macrofilaricidal activity. The administration of suramin in daily subcutaneous doses of 40 mg per kg of body weight for 5 consecutive days showed marked activity against macrofilariae and killed the adult worms within 6 weeks after the beginning of treatment. The microfilarial count of the circulating blood declined steadily to nearly 0 in more than 2 months after microfilarial production by female worms in the pleural cavities had ceased. Amodiaquine proved to be markedly effective against adult parasites, whereas stibophen, tartar emetic, and the free acid of stibocaptate gave inadequate results.