COMPARISON OF GFRMANIN AND NAGANOL IN THE ANTITRYPANOSOMAL AND ANTISPIROCHETAL ACTIVITIES

BEHAVIOUR OF T. GAMBIENSE, T. EVANSI AND T. EQUIPERDUM AGAINST THE PROPHYLACTIC ACTION OF "BAYER 205."

Abstract

Germanin ("Bayer 205" for human use) are compared in the therapeutic and prophylactic activity against the infection of mice with T. evansi, Sp. morsus-muris and Sp. duttoni. The results obtained in the paesent experiment are summarized as follows:
1. With a large dose of 0.005g per head, germanin protects mice positively against the trypanosomal infection for 4 months after injection, while naganol keeps them non-infective for 3 months.
2. These 2 drugs, in a small dose as 0.00005g, exhibit no difference in the prophylactic action, both uniformly preventing mice from the infection for 4 days after application.
3. A dose of 0.005g germanin per 20g of body weight rendered the blood of mice heavily infected sterile in 12-16 hours after injection, the same dose of naganol sterilizing them in 14-20 hours.
4. The application of small doses, such as 0.001, 0.00005 and 0.00003g, does not distinguish the 2 preparations in the therapeutic power.
5. In case of a combination chemotherapy with the recidive dose of neosalvarsan (1:700) or tartar emetic (1:3000) on one hand and the non-influential dose of germanin or naganol (0.00001g) on the other, no difference in the sterility was detected between the 2 chemicals under discussion.
6. In the combination chemotherapy with 1:3000 of tartar emetic and 0.00001g of germanin or naganol, we observed so-called “antimutative action” (Morgenroth) of the latters.
7. Against the infection with Sp. morsus-muris, "Bayer 205" in a large amount as 0.005g rendered the infected mice apparently sterile only for 1-4 days after introduction. The spirocheticidal influence of germanin, however, is somewhat superior to that of naganol.
8. A dose of 0.005g germanin kept the blood of mice infected with Sp. duttoni free from microbes for 6-8 days after injection, while naganol of the same dose showed no noticeable therapeutic action.
9. Concluding from the foregoing results, germanin seems to be more effective than naganol in both prophylactic and therapeutic activities against the trypanosomal and spirochetal infection.
10. By the prophylactic application of "Bayer 205" (0.005, 0.0001 and 0.00003g), the duration of protection is shortest against the most virulent T. gambiense, longer against the less virulent T. evansi and longest against the least virulent T. equiperdum.