Nanogold for the treatment of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER): An animal trial with methanol extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis

This experimental study was conducted to assess of effectiveness of two nanogold concentrations against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Iranian strain of Leishmania major in BALB/c mice model. Cutaneous lesions were experimentally induced by inoculation with Iranian Leishmania major promastigotes (MRHO/IR/75/ER) in 61 BALB/c mice. The infected mice were enrolled to four groups: interventional groups which were treated with two different concentrations of nanogold and two control groups. Nanogold solutions applied topically twice daily for 28 days (N=30) and the results compared with control groups (N=31).The results showed that amastigote number into the lesions, were significantly decreased in interventional groups compared with control groups (p=0.001). Nanogold solutions were also decreased mortality rate in the mice (p=0.003). No statistically difference was found between 40 μg/ml and 0.4μg/ml of nanogold concentrations in amastigote reduction (p=0.648).