Evaluation of the effect of peptidyl membrane-interactive molecules on avian coccidia

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 85; no. 4; pp. 331 - 336
• Main Authors: MARTIN, A, DANFORTH, H. D, JAYNES, J. M, THORNTON, J. E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-04-1999
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Chickens - parasitology; Coccidiosis - drug therapy; Coccidiosis - parasitology; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Coccidiostats - pharmacology; Coccidiostats - therapeutic use; Eimeria - drug effects; Eimeria - growth & development; Eimeria - ultrastructure; Medical sciences; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Microscopy, Electron; Peptides - chemical synthesis; Peptides - pharmacology; Peptides - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Poultry Diseases - drug therapy; Poultry Diseases - parasitology; Host parasite relation; Protozoal disease; Peptides; Eimeria acervulina; Sporozoit; Anticoccidious; Ultrastructure; Parasiticid; Eimeria maxima; Aves; Coccidiosis; Protozoa; Apicomplexa; Treatment efficiency; Eimeria brunetti; Eimeria tenella; Parasite; Zoopathogen; Parasitosis; Infection; Vertebrata; Chemotherapy; Synthetic product; Animal; Lysis; Merozoite; Eimeria necatrix; Chicken
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s004360050557

This study examined the lytic effect of seven different synthetic peptidyl membrane-interactive molecules (Peptidyl-MIMs) on sporozoites of five different species of Eimeria infecting chickens and merozoites of two different species that infect chickens. All Peptidyl-MIMs (pMIMs) demonstrated antiparasitic effects at concentrations of 1-50 microM during incubation periods varying from 1 to 20 min. In addition, electron microscopy showed that ultrastructural degeneration of the pellicle of sporozoite stages of the parasites occurred within 5-10 min of exposure to 5-microM concentrations of three different pMIMs. Pore-like openings were seen in the pellicle of the sporozoites at the ultrastructural level, which indicated that the pMIMs had the same mechanism of action on the parasites as that reported from studies done on bacteria. A reduction in lesion scores was seen in chickens treated orally with 10-, 50-, or 75-microM concentrations of two different proteolytic stabilized (methylated) pMIMs after challenge with three different species of avian coccidia in battery-cage trials. Collectively these data indicate that pMIMs may be useful in the control of coccidiosis in poultry.