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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #114979
Title: DETERMINATION OF THE ACTIVITY OF PONAZURIL AGAINST SARCOCYSTIS NEURONA IN CELL CULTURES

Author
item LINDSAY, DAVID - CENTER FOR MOL. MED.
item Dubey, Jitender
item KENNEDY, THOMAS - BAYER ANIMAL HEALTH

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Sarcocystis neurona is a single-celled parasite that causes a fatal neurological disease in horses in the U.S., equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). There is no effective treatment for EPM in horses. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and Virginia Tech. report activity of an anticoccidial drug, ponazuril in cell cultures infected with Sarcocystis neurona. These results will be of use to biologists and parasitologists.

Technical Abstract: The present study examine the efficiency of ponazuril in inhibiting merozoite production of Sarcocystis neurona in cell cultures. Ponazuril inhibited merozoite production by more than 90% in cultures of S. neurona treated with 1.0 mg/ml ponazuril and greater than 95% inhibition of merozoite production was observed when infected cultures were treated with 5.0 mg/ml ponazuril. Ponazuril may have promise as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of S. neurona induced EPM in horses.