Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Chagas disease is a significant public health problem with benznidazole (BZ) and nifurtimox being the only available treatments. This study evaluated the trypanocidal activity of disulfiram (DS) in Swiss mice infected with the Y and VL-10 Trypanosoma cruzi strains. DS was tested alone or in combination with BZ at different doses for 20 consecutive days during the acute or chronic phase of the infection. Parasitological cure, inflammation in the heart and colon, and serum nitric oxide levels were assessed; in Y strain-infected animals, liver oxidative damage was also evaluated, while in VL-10-infected animals, parasitemia, survival rate, and collagen formation were analyzed. The combination of BZ + DS (100 mg/kg +50 mg/kg) induced 50% parasitological cure, reduced cardiac inflammation in Y strain infection, and decreased cardiac fibrosis in VL-10 strain infection. However, the results suggest a limited adjuvant effect of disulfiram, warranting further investigation.
Source: ACS Infectious Diseases
Authors: Viviane Flores Xavier, Kátia da Silva Fonseca, Thays Helena Chaves Duarte, Flávia de Souza Marques, Lucas Resende Dutra Sousa, Aline Tonhela Ferraz, Fernanda Caetano Camini, Daniela Caldeira Costa Calsavara, Cláudia Martins Carneiro, Brian Alejandro Suárez Mantilla, Ariel Mariano Silber, Paula Melo de Abreu Vieira
Institutions: Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Universidade de São Paulo
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Awards: G22113365, G3690646728
OpenAlex ID: W7147218356