In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Pathogenic Naegleria spp Thai Strain to the Drug Combination of 5-fluorouracil and Amphotericin B

Abstract

Abstract

An ameba of the genus Naegleria fowleri, causing fatal meningoencephalitis in a human subject, has been investigated for its sensitivities to 5-fluorouracil (4.75 mg/ml), amphotericin B (0.1 μg/ml) and a combination of 5-fluorouracil (40 μg/ml) and amphotericin B (0.01 μg/ml), respectively (t < 0.001). This combination of two drugs has been compared with that of the standard drug amphotericin B, to produce 50% mortality of pathogenic Naegleria spp Thai strain and Naegleria fowleri (CDC VO3081). This report shows that the IC₅₀ of the drug combination is significantly lower than the use of amphotericin B and 5-fluorouracil alone (t < 0.001). In conclusion, the combination of the two drugs, 5-fluorouracil and amphotericin B, is highly amebicidal in vitro.

Keywords : 5-fluorouracil, pathogenic Naegleria spp