A STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF RELAPSE USING TOPICAL ADMINISTRATION OF TERBINAFINE IN A GUINEA PIG MODEL FOR TINEA PEDIS

Abstract

The effectiveness of topical terbinafine (TBF) to tinea pedis was evaluated an animal model in which guinea pigs were experimentally infected through their planta pedis with Trichophyton mentagrophytes, then a 1% TBF or butenafine (BTF) cream was administered topically once daily for 4 consecutive weeks. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed on the basis of recovery of fungal cultures from the planta pedis. The cured guinea pigs were reared in a clean environment that protected the animals from reinfection. The dermal tissues were cultured 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-treatment to examine for relapse of tinea. Complete cure was achived after 4 weeks of administration of TBF or BTF cream. In animals receiving 4 weeks of treatment with TBF, relapse was not observed up to 8 weeks after the termination of treatment. In animals treated with BTF for 4 weeks, while no relapse occurred 4 weeks after cessation of the treatment, relapse was detected in 2 out of 10 feet at 8 weeks after the termination of treatment.
These results suggest that topical TBF is effective in curing the infection and in preventing relapse in a guinea pig model of tinea pedis.