Chemotherapeutic studies on Litomosoides carinii infection of Mastomys natalensis. 7. Filaricidal activity of furazolidone.

Investigations were carried out on the filaricidal activity of furazolidone against Litomosoides carinii infection in Mastomys natalensis. Oral administration of the drug in daily doses of 25, 50, 75, and 150 mg/kg body weight on 5 consecutive days revealed respectively 96,4, 99,3 and, with the two later doses, 100% reduction of macrofilariae in the pleural cavities, and produced a continuing dose-dependant decrease of microfilaraemia in the circulating blood. After oral doses of 5 x 50 mg/kg, all the adult parasites were killed within two weeks of the start of treatment and were found encapsulated in fibrinous masses in the pleural cavities. Deformed and degenerated embryonic stages could be seen in female worms as early as 3 days after the end of treatment. Furazolidone possesses a considerable chemotherapeutic index.