<原著>慢性結核症に対する化学療法強化の限界に関する実験的研究

Abstract

Two large groups of mice were infected intravenously with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Kurono-strain. Each of these two large groups was sub-divided into six smaller groups as shown in this paper. After the intravenous challenge, all of the mice were observed without any treatment for two months to ensure the suitable chronic tuberculosis lesions. And then, in the Experiment I mice were treated for two months. And in the Experiment II mice were treated for eight months. The anti-tuberculous drugs, streptomycin (SM), para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), isoniazid (INH), ethionamide (TH) and ethambutol (EB) were employed in these experiments. After chemotherapy of two months' duration, a survival of the tubercle bacilli in the lungs and spleens were noted in all groups including the control. No survival resulted in the eight months' chemotherapy with the combination of SM, PAS, INH or SM, PAS, INH, TH, EB. The long term usage of the multiple combination of chemotherapy such as SM, PAS, INH, TH and EB may eliminate so called persistent bacilli.