title: Neospora caninum: in vivo and in vitro treatment with artemisone.
abstract: Neosporosis caused by Neospora caninum has global economic, clinical, and epidemiological impacts, mainly in the cattle industry. Currently, there is no useful drug for treatment of neosporosis. This publication is the first to describe the significant benefits that artemisone has on Neospora infections both in vitro and in vivo. Artemisone is a new semi-synthetic 10-alkylamino artemisinin that is superior to other artemisinin derivatives in terms of its significantly higher antimalarial activity, its tolerance in vivo, lack of detectable neurotoxic potential, improved in vivo pharmacokinetics and metabolic stability. Low micromolar concentrations of artemisone inhibited in vitro Neospora development. Prophylactic and post-infection treatment profoundly reduced the number of infected cells and parasites per cell. In the in vivo gerbil model, a non-toxic dose prevented typical cerebral symptoms, in most animals. There were no signs of clinical symptoms and brain PCR was negative. Most treated gerbils produced high specific antibody titer and were protected against a challenge. Overall, artemisone could be considered as a future drug for neosporosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mazuz
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: Varda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shkap
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wollkomirsky
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leibovich
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Molad
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Savitsky
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golenser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005849:Gerbillinae; D018688:Neospora / Q000187:drug effects*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013997:Time Factors; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D037621:Artemisinins; D003049:Coccidiostats; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; C514498:artemisone