FIG. 3.

Combined therapy with PC-SA liposomes, free SAG, and PC-SA-encapsulated SAG for treatment of established and chronic murine VL. Eight-week-infected BALB/c mice were treated intravenously with a single dose of 22 mg of empty PC-SA liposomes or free SAG (16 mg/kg of body weight) or an equivalent dose of SAG entrapped in 22 mg of PC-SA liposomes. Control infected animals received only PBS. (A and B) Mice were sacrificed on days 1, 15, and 30 posttreatment. Levels of parasite burden in liver (A) and spleen (B) are expressed in Leishman Donovan units. (C and D) In the second set, efficacy of the combination therapy for treatment of heavy parasite infection was assessed (12 weeks). Liver (C) and spleen (D) parasite loads after 1 month of treatment are shown in Leishman Donovan units. Values represent the means ± standard errors of the means for four animals per group per time point.