Local application of diminazene aceturate: an effective treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis?

In a controlled clinical trial we tested the effect of diminazene aceturate (Berenyl, Bayer) in local application against cutaneous leishmaniasis. The study was performed among schoolchildren in Nyala, West-Sudan in 1988 during a major outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in this region. Sixty-six schoolchildren with cutaneous leishmaniasis were enrolled in the study. The children were randomly assigned to either diminazene aceturate (Berenil) or cetrimide 15% + chlorhexidine 1.5% (Savlon) treatment. The study results show a significant faster healing of the ulcers in the children treated with diminazene aceturate (chi-square 7.31, p less than 0.01). We conclude that diminazene aceturate should be considered as a potential topical drug in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.