Evaluation of in vitro inhibitory effect of enoxacin on Babesia and Theileria parasites.
Abstract: Enoxacin is a broad-spectrum 6-fluoronaphthyridinone antibacterial agent (fluoroquinolones) structurally related to nalidixic acid used mainly in the treatment of urinary tract infections and gonorrhea. Also it has been shown recently that it may have cancer inhibiting effect. The primary antibabesial effect of Enoxacin is due to inhibition of DNA gyrase subunit A, and DNA topoisomerase. In the present study, enoxacin was tested as a potent inhibitor against the in vitro growth of bovine and equine Piroplasms. The in vitro growth of five Babesia species that were tested was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by micro molar concentrations of enoxacin (IC50 values = 33.5, 15.2, 7.5 and 23.2 μM for Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia caballi, and Theileria equi, respectively). Enoxacin IC50 values for Babesia and Theileria parasites were satisfactory as the drug is potent antibacterial drug with minimum side effects. Therefore, enoxacin might be used for treatment of Babesiosis and Theileriosis especially in case of mixed infections with bacterial diseases or incase of animal sensitivity against diminazin toxicity.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2015-12-25 PubMed ID: 26724376DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2015.12.016Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
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Summary
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The article discusses a study conducted to evaluate the efficacy of enoxacin, an antibacterial drug, in inhibiting the growth of Babesia and Theileria parasites in vitro. The results indicated that enoxacin is a potent inhibitor against these parasites and could serve as a potential treatment for Babesiosis and Theileriosis, especially in mixed infections.
Understanding Enoxacin
- Enoxacin is a broad-spectrum 6-fluoronaphthyridinone antibacterial agent, part of a group of medications called fluoroquinolones. It is structurally similar to nalidixic acid, a common medication used to treat urinary tract infections and gonorrhea.
- Previous research showed that enoxacin may have cancer-inhibiting effects, adding to its potential uses. The primary way it combats Babesia parasites is through inhibition of DNA gyrase subunit A, and DNA topoisomerase, key enzymes in DNA replication, making it harmful for the parasites.
Research Methodology and Results
- In this study, enoxacin was tested on bovine and equine Piroplasms, a type of protozoan parasite that includes Babesia and Theileria, in vitro (outside a living organism).
- The growth of five Babesia species that were tested was significantly inhibited by micro molar concentrations of enoxacin.
- IC50 values, which measure the effectiveness of a compound to inhibit biological or biochemical function, were between 7.5 and 33.5 μM for different types of parasites. These values are satisfactory, indicating enoxacin’s effectiveness as an antibacterial drug with minimal side effects.
Implications and Conclusion
- The study’s results suggest a potential use for enoxacin in treating Babesiosis and Theileriosis, diseases caused by Babesia and Theileria parasites.
- The research is especially relevant in cases of mixed infections with bacterial diseases, or in case of animal sensitivity against diminazin toxicity, a common treatment for these diseases. Enoxacin could provide a much-needed alternative therapy.
Cite This Article
APA
Omar MA, Salama A, Elsify A, Rizk MA, Al-Aboody MS, AbouLaila M, El-Sayed SA, Igarashi I.
(2015).
Evaluation of in vitro inhibitory effect of enoxacin on Babesia and Theileria parasites.
Exp Parasitol, 161, 62-67.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2015.12.016 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, SouthValley University, Qena 83523, Egypt; Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Science Al-Zulfi, AlMajmaah University, Alzulfi 11932, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: ma.omar@mu.edu.sa.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Minoufiya, Egypt.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Minoufiya, Egypt.
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Science Al-Zulfi, AlMajmaah University, Alzulfi 11932, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sadat City University, Sadat City 32897, Minoufiya, Egypt.
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology
- Babesia / drug effects
- Babesia / growth & development
- Babesiosis / drug therapy
- Cattle
- Enoxacin / pharmacology
- Horses
- Inhibitory Concentration 50
- Theileria / drug effects
- Theileria / growth & development
- Theileriasis / drug therapy
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Rizk MA, Baghdadi HB, El-Sayed SAE, Eltaysh R, Igarashi I. Repurposing of the Malaria Box for Babesia microti in mice identifies novel active scaffolds against piroplasmosis. Parasit Vectors 2022 Sep 19;15(1):329.
- Kou W, Zhang H, Bibi A, Ke M, Han J, Xiong J, Su R, Liang D. Fast quantification of fluoroquinolones in environmental water samples using molecularly imprinted polymers coupled with internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. RSC Adv 2018 May 9;8(31):17293-17299.
- Renard I, Ben Mamoun C. Treatment of Human Babesiosis: Then and Now. Pathogens 2021 Sep 1;10(9).
- Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Fry LM, Knowles DP, Steinman A. Twenty Years of Equine Piroplasmosis Research: Global Distribution, Molecular Diagnosis, and Phylogeny. Pathogens 2020 Nov 8;9(11).
- 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.
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