evaluation of a novel herbal immunomodulator drug (imod) in treatment of experimental canine visceral leishmaniasis

toxicity and drug resistance against pentavalent antimonials, medications of choice in treatment of leishmaniasis for more than 5 decades, have become important subjects globally. this study was a randomized, open labeled trial that was designed to determine efficacy and safety of imod as a novel herbal immunomodulator drug for treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl).twenty healthy mongrel dogs were infected with iranian strain of l. infantum amastigotes and randomly divided to 5 groups with four animals for each included on: i: negative control (non-infected) ii: glucantime® iii: glucantime® plus imod (immune-chemotherapy) iv: imod and v: positive control (non-treated). physical examination, hematological, biochemical, serological, parasitological, pathological and imaging evaluations were performed pre-/post- interventions every month for 3 months. comparing with control groups (i&v;), immune-chemotherapy group (glucantime® plus imod) showed significantly higher efficacy in resolving the clinical signs and hematobiochemistry factors. based on our results, using imod in combination with meglumine antimoniate (glucantime®) has significantly improved cvl than the latter drug alone. so, it seems this new herbal medicine is useful as adjuvant therapy for canine visceral leishmaniasis.