ANTI-MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE ACTIVITY OF SEVERAL QUINOLONES STUDIED IN THE MOUSE

The anti-Mycobacterium leprae activity of several fluoroquinolones (A-56619, A-56620, ofloxacin, fleroxacin, lomefloxacin, temafloxacin, tosufloxacin, and PD-117596) was studied in the mouse. In a dosage of 150 mg/kg administered daily, A-56619 is active and A-56620 is inactive against M. leprae. Ofloxacin administered daily for 2 weeks at 300 mg/kg is bactericidal. The minimal effective dose of PD-117596, lomefloxacin and temafloxacin is less than 37.5 mg/kg. When administered at 300 mg/kg at monthly intervals temafloxacin, PD-117596, and ofloxacin are bacteriostatic; while fleroxacin and lomefloxacin are bactericidal. Tosufloxacin is less active than the other quinolones included in the present study.