Enhancement of host defense mechanisms against gram positive pyogenic coccal infections with levo tetramisole (levamisole) in neonatal rats

G. W. Fisher, V. T. Oi, J. L. Kelley, John Podgore, J. W. Bass, F. S. Wagner, B. L. Gordon IInd

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Levamisole (Lev), an immunologic stimulant, was studied in newborn Wistar rats to evaluate its effectiveness in modifying infections induced by challenge with bacterial pathogens. Survival of rats pretreated with Lev, then challenged with staphylococci was 41/45, whilst it was only 3/59 in those rats pretreated with a saline placebo prior to challenge with living staphylococci (P = < .001). Survival of newborn rats pretreated with Lev prior to challenge with living streptococci was 11/12 compared with 2/13 in neonatal rats which received saline placebo prior to challenge with living streptococci (P = < .005). Lev did not kill either staphylococci or streptococci in vitro. Treatment of neonatal rats prior to staphylococcal or streptococcal challenge with Lev appeared to stimulate maturation of lymphoid tissue and thus protect the rats from bacterial challenge, in this neonatal model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)193-198
Number of pages6
JournalAnnals of Allergy
Volume33
Issue number4
StatePublished - 1 Dec 1974

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