EFFECT OF TOPICAL PAROMOMYCIN ON CELL‐MEDIATED IMMUNITY DURING CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical paromomycin treatment on the development of immunity during cutaneous leishmaniasis. METHODS: Three parameters of immunity were measured in the course of the disease: leishmanicidal effector activity, lymphocyte proliferation (cell-mediated immunity), and antibody levels (humoral immunity). Peripheral blood specimens of 55 treated and 36 untreated patients were tested. RESULTS: The main results of this study showed that there was a significant delay in the development of leishmanicidal effector activity and to a lesser extent also a delay in the development of antigen-specific proliferative response in the treated compared with the untreated group. No difference was observed between the groups regarding the values achieved in the various tests. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that topical paromomycin treatment delays the development of cell-mediated immunity but does not affect the levels of immunity that are eventually achieved.