amphotericin-b and Schistosomiasis

Topics: Amphotericin B; Animals; Antimony; Chemosterilants; Drug Evaluation; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Eggs; Emetine; Humans; Hycanthone; Lucanthone; Naphthalenes; Niridazole; Nitrofurans; Organophosphorus Compounds; Oxamniquine; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomicides; Snails; Thiazoles; Thiophenes; Tubercidin

Renal aspergillomas have been reported only rarely. We report a case of Aspergillus flavus colonization of the renal pelvis and upper ureter of a patient with concomitant urinary schistosomiasis. The diagnosis was based on the demonstration of characteristic hyphal elements on direct microscopy and isolation of the fungus in culture. The patient was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B. This case emphasizes the importance of direct microscopic examination of urine specimens for prompt diagnosis of fungal infections of the urogenital system. Renal aspergilloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of filling defects of the urinary tract, especially in patients who are immunocompromised.

Topics: Adult; Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis; Aspergillus flavus; Drug Carriers; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative; Humans; Kidney Pelvis; Liposomes; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Schistosomiasis; Ureter; Urine; Urography

Amphotericin B (AmB) increases host resistance against several infectious agents and tumors. We evaluated its effect on infections with the helminth Schistosoma mansoni. A single dose of 500 microgram i.p. or 25 microgram i.v. increased resistance in mice to a challenge with 500 or 100 S. mansoni cercariae. Schistosomula recovery from the lungs, 5 days after challenge, was reduced 33 to 40%. Adult worm recovery 8 wk after infection was reduced 36 to 43%, AmB was effective in protecting mice when given from 9 days before until the day of cercarial challenge but was ineffective 2 wk before or at all intervals after S. mansoni infection. To examine the mechanism of this resistance, we obtained peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from animals treated with AmB and assessed their ability to kill schistosomula, the migrating larval stage of the parasite. Killing by adherent PEC 1 or 2 days after AmB treatment was the same as that of resident macrophages from untreated animals. Adherent PEC from animals 3 to 7 days after AmB treatment showed enhanced killing of schistosomula (38.0 plus or minus 3.0% at day 4, which exceeded control of 8.1 plus or minus 4.0%, p less than 0.01). These PEC also displayed increased killing of Staphylococcus aureus. When AmB was added to cultures of resident peritoneal adherent cells from untreated mice at 0.5 microgram/ml to 2.0 microgram/ml (concentrations not toxic to the organism), schistosomula killing was increased 1- to 6- fold. These findings demonstrate activation of murine macrophages by AmB in vitro and in vivo, which results in greater killing of this multicellular parasite and potentially contributes to enhanced resistance to infection.

Topics: Amphotericin B; Animals; Ascitic Fluid; Cell Adhesion; Female; Macrophages; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Amphotericin B; Cricetinae; Liver Diseases; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Mice; Pharmacology; Research; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomiasis mansoni

Topics: Adult; Amphotericin B; Animals; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Mice; Schistosomiasis

Topics: Amphotericin B; Animals; Mice; Research; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomiasis mansoni