HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Smadel, J. E. Articles by Cruise, A. B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Smadel, J. E. Articles by Cruise, A. B.

Chloromycetin in Experimental Rickettsial Infections

From the Department of Virus and Rickettsial Diseases, Army Medical Department Research and Graduate School, Army Medical Center, Washington 12, D. C.

Abstract

Experimental data were presented which indicated that chloromycetin has a rickettsiostatic effect in embryonated eggs infected with R. tsutsugamushi, R. mooseri, R. rickettsi, R. akari, R. prowazeki and R. burneti. Chemotherapeutic tests in mice or guinea pigs infected with any one of the first four agents listed also gave evidence of a beneficial effect of the drug, although the effect on guinea pigs infected with R. rickettsi was much less striking. Treatment was of value in both infected eggs and animals when therapy was delayed for appreciable periods of time after infection.

Chloromycetin had only a suppressive effect on the growth of R. tsutsugamushi in mice since the infectious agent could be recovered from tissues of apparently healthy mice which were treated for 100 days after infection. Preliminary observations suggested that the drug may under certain circumstances sterilize the tissues or cause complete suppression of growth of organisms in mice inoculated with R. akari or guinea pigs injected with R. rickettsi. Chloromycetin had no direct rickettsiocidal action on R. tsutsugamushi in vitro. Furthermore, mice under treatment could not be shown to differ consistently from normal animals in their response to rickettsial toxins.

Values for the blood and urine levels of chloromycetin encountered in mice given the antibiotic followed the general pattern observed in man but guinea pigs showed low levels after corresponding doses.