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In vitro activity of the polyether ionophorous antibiotic monensin against the cyst form of Toxoplasma gondii

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2000

S. COUZINET ,
J. F. DUBREMETZ ,
D. BUZONI-GATEL ,
G. JEMINET  and
G. PRENSIER
S. COUZINET
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Biologie comparée des Protistes, UPES A CNRS 6023, Université Blaise Pascal, Complexe scientifique des Cézeaux, 63177 Aubière Cedex, France
J. F. DUBREMETZ
Affiliation:
Institut de Biologie de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, BP 245, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
D. BUZONI-GATEL
Affiliation:
Equipe associée INRA-Université d'Immunologie Parasitaire, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, 31 avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France
G. JEMINET
Affiliation:
Université Blaise Pascal, Laboratoire de Chimie organique biologique, UMR CNRS 6504, Complexe scientifique des Cézeaux, 63177 Aubière Cedex, France
G. PRENSIER
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Biologie comparée des Protistes, UPES A CNRS 6023, Université Blaise Pascal, Complexe scientifique des Cézeaux, 63177 Aubière Cedex, France
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Abstract

We have studied the activity of the polyether ionophorous antibiotic monensin against the cyst form (bradyzoite) of Toxoplasma gondii. The experiments were conducted in vitro using 2 methods; cysts produced either in mice or in cell culture were exposed to monensin in vitro, and the infectivity of the parasites was then assessed in vivo or in vitro. The data obtained from these 2 systems of evaluation showed that monensin inhibits the infectivity and the viability of the bradyzoites. Its activity was time and concentration dependent. The first effects were observed at very low drug concentrations (i.e. 0·0001 μg/ml). Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy analysis showed significant cytological alterations of the monensin-treated bradyzoites: they were swollen, had a large number of vacuoles in their cytoplasm and were found lysed at higher concentrations in ionophore.

Keywords

Toxoplasma gondiicystbradyzoitemonensinin vitroparasiticidal effect
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 121 , Issue 4 , October 2000 , pp. 359 - 365
Copyright
2000 Cambridge University Press

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