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Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy2009; 53(10); 4327-4332; doi: 10.1128/AAC.00404-09

Imidocarb dipropionate clears persistent Babesia caballi infection with elimination of transmission potential.

Abstract: Antimicrobial treatment of persistent infection to eliminate transmission risk represents a specific challenge requiring compelling evidence of complete pathogen clearance. The limited repertoire of antimicrobial agents targeted at protozoal parasites magnifies this challenge. Using Babesia caballi as both a model and a specific apicomplexan pathogen for which evidence of the elimination of transmission risk is required for international animal movement, we tested whether a high-dose regimen of imidocarb dipropionate cleared infection from persistently infected asymptomatic horses and/or eliminated transmission risk. Clearance with elimination of transmission risk was supported by the following four specific lines of evidence: (i) inability to detect parasites by quantitative PCR and nested PCR amplification, (ii) conversion from seropositive to seronegative status, (iii) inability to transmit infection by direct inoculation of blood into susceptible recipient horses, and (iv) inability to transmit infection by ticks acquisition fed on the treated horses and subsequently transmission fed on susceptible horses. In contrast, untreated horses remained infected and capable of transmitting B. caballi using the same criteria. These findings establish that imidocarb dipropionate treatment clears B. caballi infection with confirmation of lack of transmission risk either by direct blood transfer or a high tick burden. Importantly, the treated horses revert to seronegative status according to the international standard for serologic testing and would be permitted to move between countries where the pathogen is endemic and countries that are free of the pathogen.
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Publication Date: 2009-07-20 PubMed ID: 19620328PubMed Central: PMC2764191DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00404-09Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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 studied whether a highly dosed treatment of imidocarb dipropionate would clear Babesia caballi infection in persistently infected horses and if it would prevent further transmission. Results indicated the treatment was successful in eradicating the infection and preventing transmission through both direct blood transfer and ticks.

Overview of Research

  • The study was focused on whether a high-dose regimen of a drug called imidocarb dipropionate could clear Babesia caballi infection in horses that are persistently infected.
  • Besides clearing the infection, the researchers were interested in seeing if the drug could also eliminate the risk of the infection spreading.
  • Due to its application in international animal movement, the research also holds value in assessing evidence required for the elimination of transmission risk of this particular parasite.

Methodology and Evidence

  • The effects of the drug were evaluated by four main evidentiary points: first, the inability to detect parasites post-treatment; second, the conversion of seropositive status to seronegative; third, the inability to transfer the infection to other horses via direct blood transfer; and fourth, the inability of ticks which were fed on the treated horses to transfer the infection.
  • The study also included a control group of untreated horses who remained infected and capable of transmitting B. caballi.

Findings and Implications

  • The findings indicated that imidocarb dipropionate was indeed successful in clearing the infection in horses and removing the risk of transmission. Treated horses also reverted to a seronegative status, thus meeting the international standard for serologic testing.
  • These findings hold implications for international horse trading and movement. Treated horses could consequently be permitted to move between countries where the parasite is endemic and countries free of the infection safely without transmission risk.

Cite This Article

APA
Schwint ON, Ueti MW, Palmer GH, Kappmeyer LS, Hines MT, Cordes RT, Knowles DP, Scoles GA. (2009). Imidocarb dipropionate clears persistent Babesia caballi infection with elimination of transmission potential. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 53(10), 4327-4332. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.00404-09

Publication

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
ISSN: 1098-6596
NlmUniqueID: 0315061
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 10
Pages: 4327-4332

Researcher Affiliations

Schwint, O Nicolas
  • Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, School for Global Animal Heath, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA.
Ueti, Massaro W
    Palmer, Guy H
      Kappmeyer, Lowell S
        Hines, Melissa T
          Cordes, R Timothy
            Knowles, Donald P
              Scoles, Glen A

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
                • Babesia / drug effects
                • Babesia / pathogenicity
                • Babesiosis / drug therapy
                • Babesiosis / microbiology
                • Babesiosis / transmission
                • Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control
                • Horses
                • Imidocarb / analogs & derivatives
                • Imidocarb / therapeutic use
                • Ticks / microbiology

                Grant Funding

                • T32 AI007025 / NIAID NIH HHS

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                Citations

                This article has been cited 16 times.
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