Effect of levamisole on experimental paracoccidioidomycosis in the Syrian hamster: immunologic and histopathologic correlation.

The effect of levamisole (LMS) was studied in hamsters inoculated with live yeast phase culture of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis by intratesticular route. One group started LMS therapy at an early stage of infection (LMS3 group), when the animals were immunocompetent, and another group was treated in a later stage, when the immune response was already depressed (LMS12 group). As control, one group was not treated. The alterations induced by levamisole were studied by immunologic and histopathologic parameters. Compared to controls, the LMS3 group presented normal levels of cellular immune response and inflammatory reaction characterized by compact epithelioid granuloma during a longer period of time. In addition, this group showed a lower incidence of amyloidosis and lower fungi proliferation in the lesions. In the LMS12 group a transient enhancement was noteworthy of cellular immune response with maintenance of the compact pattern of the epithelioid granuloma as in the LMS3 group; however, the number of fungi and incidence of amyloidosis were similar to controls. The differences between both treated groups may be accounted for by some factors such as host immune competence, timing and total dose of LMS administered. Levamisole may be of value as additional therapy in paracoccidioidomycosis.