The Effect of Aureomycin Hydrochloride on the Growth of Endamoeba Histolytica in Vitro

Abstract

Summary 1. The in vitro effect of aureomycin on a strain of E. histolytica growing with Clostridium perfringens and Bacterioides necrophorus was studied. 2. The addition of the drug to the ameba cultures resulted in failure of the amebae to appear (complete inhibition) or in evidences of amebastasis which increased directly with the concentration of the drug. 3. The inhibition of amebic growth was associated with temporary inhibition of bacterial growth. 4. Resumption of amebic growth usually followed recovery of bacterial growth from the inhibitory effects of aureomycin but occurred less frequently as the dose of aureomycin increased. 5. The treatment of ameba cultures with aureomycin for one hour and the subsequent transfer of the treated inocula to media containing an actively growing bacterial flora resulted in greater amebastasis as the concentration of aureomycin was increased. 6. It was concluded that aureomycin affected the growth of E. histolytica in vitro by inhibiting the bacterial flora and by a direct anti-amebic action.