Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Abstract

Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis by Topical Application of Honey

Mahasen Wadi, Al Fadhil Al Obeid and Sami Khalid

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of topical application of honey on induced cutaneous leishmaniasis ulcer in 25 hamsters (Mesocircetus auratus) compared with control group of another 25 hamsters treated by pentostam injection.

Methods: A group of 50 adult male and female hamsters, were inoculated with 1×105 cells/mL of Leishmania major. Culture medium was examined microscopically for promastigotes. Samples of 0.1 ml positive culture were inoculated to the hamster –tail base intradermally. The animasl were checked for lesion. Which were taken impression smear.. Smears were fixed and stained with Giemsa’s. Honey was applied topically to infected lesions of one group of hamsters. The control group were injected with 0.1 mL pentostam intramuscular every other day. Lesions were measured daily by millimeter paper.

Results: After two weeks all the inoculated hamsters developed different types of lesions. The 25 group of hamsters treated with honey responded to treatment after one week. The control group treated with pentostam injection showed low response to treatment, it took prolonged time to heal up to 12-16 weeks.

Conclusion: Topical dressing of cutaneous leishmaniasis ulcers with honey is very effective and helps in the treatment in a short time as compared with pentostam injection.