Trypanocidal value of liposomal diminazene in experimental Trypanosoma brucei evansi infection in mice.

The trypanocidal value of liposomal diminazene was examined. Three hundred mice were divided randomly into six groups of 50 mice each. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were pretreated 2 h before Trypanosoma brucei evansi challenge with 0.2 ml saline solution, 0.2 ml diminazene solution (5 mg ml-1) and 0.2 ml liposomal solution (5 mg diminazene per ml), respectively. Mice in Group 1 all died within 6 days, 33 in Group 2 and four in Group 3 died within 15 days after challenge, respectively. Groups 4, 5, and 6 were treated 4 days after T. b. evansi challenge with 0.2 ml saline solution 0.2 ml diminazene solution (5 mg ml-1) and 0.2 ml liposomal solution (5 mg diminazene per ml), respectively. Mice in Group 4 all died within 6 days, 19 in Group 5 and two in group 6 died within 15 days after challenge, respectively. The remaining mice survived for more than 30 days, were symptom-free and behaved normally. No adverse effects associated with treatment were noted.