Chemotherapy of CNS-trypanosomiasis: the combined use of diminazene aceturate or pentamidine with DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO).

The chemotherapy of CNS-trypanosomiasis with DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (Eflornithine, DFMO) with the diamidine, pentamidine (Lomidine) or diminazene aceturate (Berenil) was examined using the mouse model for CNS-trypanosomiasis. Although combined DFMO/pentamidine therapy can give complete cures, one or more doses of 100 mg/kg pentamidine was required with continuous administration of DFMO for 14-16 days, and even this treatment failed to cure the mice in a repeat experiment. Diminazene aceturate was more efficient and provided a 40 mg-kg dose was utilised, it was possible to reduce the period of DFMO to approximately 12 days. Attempts to reduce the dose rate of diminazene to less than 40 mg-kg failed. Of the two compounds, diminazene aceturate was the more successful and could possibly be used in combination with DFMO in the treatment of CNS-trypanosomiasis.