Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of benznidazole/itraconazole combination therapy.

Mice were inoculated with 5,000 T. cruzi Y strain trypomastigotes by the intraperitoneal route and treated with daily doses 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg of bodyweight (mg/kg) of benznidazole (Bz) or itraconazole (Itz) alone or in combination for 20 consecutive days. (a) Maximum number of trypomastigotes detected in the peripheral blood of treated mice up to 30 days post-treatment. (b) IgG antibodies in treated mice by ELISA up to 30 days post-treatment. The results are shown as the reactivity index value, which was obtained by dividing the absorption value (O.D. value) of each serum sample by the mean value of the differential control uninfected sample. (-) negative results in fresh blood examination and PCR assay, (+) positive results in fresh blood examination and/or PCR assay, and & significant difference relative to benznidazole treatment administered alone at the same dose; ★ significant relative to itraconazole treatment administered alone at the same dose.