Ivermectin : concentration-dependent effects on adenosine triphosphatases in adult worms of Onchocerca volvulus

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 7 - 11
• Main Authors: SHU, E. N, OKONKWO, P. O, BATEY, W. O, ONYEANUSI, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 05-01-2000
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphatases - drug effects; Adenosine Triphosphatases - metabolism; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiparasitic agents; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases caused by nematodes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Filariases; Helminthic diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Ivermectin - pharmacology; Male; Medical sciences; Nigeria; Onchocerca volvulus - drug effects; Onchocerca volvulus - enzymology; Onchocercosis; Parasitic diseases; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Tropical medicine; Nigeria; Africa; Human; Skin disease; Anthelmintic; Enzyme; Adenosinetriphosphatase; Onchocerca volvulus; Parasitosis; Helminthiasis; Onchocerciasis; Biological activity; Infection; Eye disease; Nematode disease; Parasiticid; Helmintha; Hydrolases; Nemathelminthia; Filariosis; Invertebrata; Nematoda; Ivermectin
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/S0001-706X(99)00052-2

The effect of increasing concentrations of ivermectin on adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity was investigated in adult worms of Onchocerca volvulus. Mean Mg- and Na,K-ATPase activities decreased significantly (F ratio = 29.82, P < 0.01 and F ratio = 28.54, P < 0.01, respectively) with increasing concentrations of ivermectin (0-100 ng/ml) in the female worms. When male and female worms were mixed with equal amounts of proteins from each, only the Na,K-ATPase activity was significantly decreased (F ratio = 56.61, P < 0.01) over a similar range of ivermectin concentrations. Since ivermectin exhibits concentration-dependent effects on both ATPases in female adult worms, this might provide an insight into other effects of the drug. However, the adjustment of the dose of ivermectin to obtain a nodular concentration of at least 40 ng/ml is therefore recommended in the complete chemotherapy of onchocerciasis.