Annual Progress Report, 1 July 1972 - 30 June 1973

The research program of USAMRU-P is devoted to the study of infectious diseases military importance in Latin America. The investigations reported are primarily concerned with American leishmaniasis, a disease which continues to afflict US Forces personnel. A study of the effect of chemotherapy on serum antibody was made to determine if serologic testing would be of value in judging treatment efficacy. Follow-up of patients treated with metranidazole in the Canal Zone and Republic of Panama medical facilities demonstrated conclusively that this drug is of no value. A vero cell experimental infection model for antileishmanial drug screening was developed with permits exposure of intracellular amastigotes to drug for up to 10 days. However, no effect on the parasites could be demonstrated with this system using a clinically effective drug, methyl glucamine antimoniate. An incidental finding was made of the first human liver fluke (Amphimerus sp.) infection in Panama, which constitutes only the third report from the Western Hemisphere. (Modified author abstract) See also report dated Jul 73, AD-749 263.