Abstract
Sulfanilamide and related compounds have been used in the treatment of brucellosis since 1936. Their value, however, is subject to controversy. We have attempted to determine the effect of sulfanilamide and sulfamethylthiazol on the experimental infection in mice.
Experiment I. The organisms were grown for 24 hours on tryptose agar slants and the growth was suspended in saline to give a turbidity comparable to McFarland's barium sulphate standard No. 1. Mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with varying amounts of this suspension and 0.1 cc was found to kill the majority of animals in from 4 to 5 days. This dose was employed in Experiment I.
The Drugs. Sulfanilamide and sulfamethylthiazol were used in a one percent solution and a one percent suspension in water respectively. The powder was moistened with a small amount of distilled water and made in a mortar into a fine paste which was suspended in the required amount of water. An even suspension was secured by thorough agitation just prior to the administration of the drug, which was given by mouth with a 1 cc tuberculin syringe and a 1 1/2-inch 20-gauge needle with a blunt end. A dose of 0.5 cc (corresponding to 5 mg of the drug) was given twice daily for 2 days; from there on, once daily until the fifth day when the treatment was suspended.
The animals were kept under careful observation on a diet of Purina dog chow and water during 15 days, at the end of which the survivors were killed and autopsied.
Sixty mice were used. The animals weighed 18 to 20 g and were from 5 to 6 weeks old. They were divided into 5 groups of 12 mice each, as follows:
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.