Clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and clodinafop-propargyl as potent growth inhibitors of equine Babesia parasites during in vitro culture.
Abstract: The antifungal agents clotrimazole (CLT) and ketoconazole (KC) and the herbicide clodinafop-propargyl (CP) inhibit growth of Plasmodium sp., Toxoplasma sp., and Trypanosoma sp. In the present study, we evaluated these drugs against the in vitro growth of the equine protozoan parasites Babesia equi and B. caballi. Clotrimazole (IC50: 2 and 17 microM), KC (IC50: 6 and 22 microM), and CP (IC50: 450 and 354 microM) were effective growth inhibitors. Interestingly, intraerythrocytic KC-treated Babesia sp. were observed to be in immediate contact with the plasma fraction of the blood in electron microscopy. These results demonstrate the babesiacidial activities of these compounds and suggest their chemotherapeutic potential for the treatment of equine babesioses.
Publication Date: 2003-07-26 PubMed ID: 12880264DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2003)089[0604:CKACAP]2.0.CO;2Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article delves into the study of using antifungal agents clotrimazole, ketoconazole and herbicide clodinafop-propargyl to inhibit the growth of equine Babesia parasites.
Objective of the Study
- This study aimed to explore the antimicrobial properties of the compounds clotrimazole (CLT), ketoconazole (KC), and clodinafop-propargyl (CP). The main objective was to investigate their ability to inhibit the growth of the equine Babesia parasites.
Methodology of the Research
- The researchers administered these drugs against Babesia equi and B. caballi while conducting in vitro study. In vitro studies involve experiments carried out with cells or biological molecules, outside their normal biological context.
Findings of the Study
- The study revealed that clotrimazole (IC50: 2 and 17 microM), KC (IC50: 6 and 22 microM), and CP (IC50: 450 and 354 microM) were potent inhibitors of the growth of the parasites.
- The IC50 is essentially the concentration of the drug that inhibits parasite growth by 50%. Lower IC50 values indicate a stronger parasite-growth inhibitory effect.
Observations of the Study
- Interestingly, the research noted that Babesia parasites, that had been treated with KC, were in immediate contact with the plasma fraction of the blood when observed under electron microscopy.
Conclusion of the Study
- The results demonstrate the antioxidative effects of these compounds against Babesia parasites and point towards the possibility of using these compounds for the treatment of equine babesiosis, a disease caused by Babesia parasites.
Cite This Article
APA
Bork S, Yokoyama N, Matsuo T, Claveria FG, Fujisaki K, Igarashi I.
(2003).
Clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and clodinafop-propargyl as potent growth inhibitors of equine Babesia parasites during in vitro culture.
J Parasitol, 89(3), 604-606.
https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2003)089[0604:CKACAP]2.0.CO;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Alkynes / pharmacology
- Animals
- Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
- Babesia / drug effects
- Babesia / growth & development
- Babesia / ultrastructure
- Babesiosis / parasitology
- Babesiosis / veterinary
- Clotrimazole / pharmacology
- Equidae
- Growth Inhibitors / pharmacology
- Herbicides / pharmacology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Ketoconazole / pharmacology
- Microscopy, Electron / veterinary
- Propanols / pharmacology
- Propionates / pharmacology
- Pyridines / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Alvarez JA, Rojas C, Figueroa JV. An Overview of Current Knowledge on in vitro Babesia Cultivation for Production of Live Attenuated Vaccines for Bovine Babesiosis in Mexico. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:364.
- Couto J, Villar M, Mateos-Hernández L, Ferrolho J, Sanches GS, Sofia Santos A, Santos-Silva MM, Nobre J, Moreira O, Antunes S, de la Fuente J, Domingos A. Quantitative Proteomics Identifies Metabolic Pathways Affected by Babesia Infection and Blood Feeding in the Sialoproteome of the Vector Rhipicephalus bursa. Vaccines (Basel) 2020 Feb 19;8(1).
- Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 May 16;16(10).
- Mossaad E, Asada M, Nakatani D, Inoue N, Yokoyama N, Kaneko O, Kawazu S. Calcium ions are involved in egress of Babesia bovis merozoites from bovine erythrocytes. J Vet Med Sci 2015 Jan;77(1):53-8.
- Mesquita JT, da Costa-Silva TA, Borborema SE, Tempone AG. Activity of imidazole compounds on Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi: reactive oxygen species induced by econazole. Mol Cell Biochem 2014 Apr;389(1-2):293-300.
- Aboulaila M, Munkhjargal T, Sivakumar T, Ueno A, Nakano Y, Yokoyama M, Yoshinari T, Nagano D, Katayama K, El-Bahy N, Yokoyama N, Igarashi I. Apicoplast-targeting antibacterials inhibit the growth of Babesia parasites. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012 Jun;56(6):3196-206.
- Bork S, Yokoyama N, Ikehara Y, Kumar S, Sugimoto C, Igarashi I. Growth-inhibitory effect of heparin on Babesia parasites. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2004 Jan;48(1):236-41.
- Rajput R, Prajapati A, Srivastava A. Targeting piroplasmosis and theileriosis: New frontiers in drug development. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 Dec 9;57(9):529.
- Mendoza FJ, Pérez-Écija A, Kappmeyer LS, Suarez CE, Bastos RG. New insights in the diagnosis and treatment of equine piroplasmosis: pitfalls, idiosyncrasies, and myths. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1459989.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
