Preliminary study of the mechanism of action of ethanamizuril against Eimeria tenella

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 119; no. 5; pp. 1653 - 1661
• Main Authors: Li, Xueyan, Chen, Huiya, Zhao, Qiping, Zhang, Lifang, Zhang, Keyu, Wang, Xiaoyang, Wang, Mi, Liu, Yingchun, Wang, Chunmei, Xue, Feiqun, Fei, Chenzhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Antigens; Antigens, Surface - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Blotting, Western; Chickens - parasitology; Coccidiosis - drug therapy; Coccidiosis - parasitology; coccidiostats; drugs; Eimeria tenella; Eimeria tenella - drug effects; fluorescence; fluorescent antibody technique; gene expression regulation; genes; Immunofluorescence; Immunology; Life Cycle Stages - drug effects; Life cycles; mechanism of action; Medical Microbiology; Merozoites; Merozoites - drug effects; Microbiology; Polymerase chain reaction; Poultry Diseases - prevention & control; Proteins; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Protozoology - Original Paper; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Schizogony; screening; surface antigens; Triazine; triazines; Triazines - pharmacology; Western blotting; Mechanism of action; Surface antigen protein; Ethanamizuril; Eimeria tenella
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06665-9

Ethanamizuril (EZL) is a novel triazine compound with excellent anticoccidial activity. We carried out a preliminary investigation of the effects of EZL on the different life cycle stages of Eimeria tenella . EZL mainly acted on the schizogony stage, with peak activity during the second-generation merozoite stage. We also studied the possible target of EZL by identifying the majorly differentially expressed gene affected by EZL in second-generation merozoites using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and screening for surface antigen proteins (SAGs). The relative expression levels of SAGs were compared by Western blot analysis showing that expression levels of surface antigen family member (SAGfm) and SAG19 were significantly downregulated by EZL. Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that SAGfm and SAG19 were localized on the surface of second-generation merozoites. In addition, fluorescence signals were significantly stronger in second-generation merozoites of infected non-medicated control (INC) group compared with that of the EZL group. Therefore, it was speculated that SAGs might be a potential target of EZL action. The inhibitory effects of anticoccidial drugs on SAG levels in coccidia thus warrant further research.