Effect of artemisinin on oocyst wall formation and sporulation during Eimeria tenella infection.
The anticoccidial effect of a product extracted from the natural herb Artemisia annua, artemisinin, which has a potential use as a dietary supplement, has been studied. Commercial artemisinin was administered at 10 and 17 ppm in food and tested against infection with Eimeria tenella. A battery trial to quantify the effect of artemisinin on the reproductive and infective capabilities of E. tenella was carried out. For that purpose flow cytometry was combined with electron microscopy and immunofluorescence techniques in order to study the effect of artemisinin on E. tenella gametogenesis. Significantly reduced oocyst output and lesion scores were found in chickens treated with artemisinin. In addition, evidence to support a lower oocyst sporulation rate was obtained. Though the ultrastructural studies showed normal development of gametogenesis in artemisinin-treated chickens, the oocyst wall formation was significantly altered. This resulted in both death of developing oocysts and reduced sporulation rate. Immunofluorescent studies provided evidence that treatment with artemisinin inhibited sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) expression in macrogametes. According to these findings, artemisinin has a deleterious effect on fertilized macrogametes (early zygotes) by inhibiting SERCA. The altered secretion of the wall-forming bodies may be the result of Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase impaired activity which, in turn, is the result of SERCA inhibition.
del Cacho
Emilio
E
Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain. edelcach@unizar.es
Gallego
Margarita
M
Francesch
María
M
Quílez
Joaquín
J
Sánchez-Acedo
Caridad
C
D000818:Animals; D031172:Artemisia annua / Q000737:chemistry; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016786:Eimeria tenella / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D033661:Oocysts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D033761:Spores, Protozoan / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D037621:Artemisinins; D003049:Coccidiostats; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases