Development of a Canine Coccidiosis Model and the Anticoccidial Effects of a New Chemotherapeutic Agent

Coccidia are obligate intracellular parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. Many coccidia are of medical and veterinary importance such as Cystoisospora species and Toxoplasma gondii. The need to discover new anticoccidial therapies has increased due to development of resistance by the parasite or toxicity issues in the patient. The goals of this work were to develop a model for canine coccidiosis while proving that Cystoisospora canis is a true primary pathogen in dogs and to determine the efficacy of a new anticoccidial agent. A canine coccidiosis model would be useful in evaluating new anticoccidial treatments. Oral infections with 5 X 104 (n=2) and 1 X 105 (n=20) sporulated C. canis oocysts were attempted in 22 purpose bred beagle puppies. Clinical signs associated with disease were observed in all dogs. Bacterial and viral pathogens were ruled out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and bacterial growth assays. Development of C. canis in cell culture was also evaluated. The efficacy of ponazuril, a new anticoccidial drug, was examined in T. gondii. In vitro studies were conducted to determine the activity of ponazuril on tachyzoites and how this agent affects development of apicomplexcan parasites. The tachyzoite production assay was conducted. Ponazuril at a dose of 1.0 µg/ml had a significant affect on tachyzoite reproduction. Comparisons were made on how ponazuril affects T. gondii and Neospora caninum. Inhibition of T. gondii tachyzoites occurred after the second round of replication and with N. caninum tachyzoites after 4 rounds of replication. Results of TEM revealed ponazuril affects replication of T. gondii and N. caninum differently. The efficacy of ponazuril to prevent and treat acute and chronic toxoplasmosis was investigated. Mice treated prophylactically with ponazuril were completely protected from developing an acute T. gondii infection. Fatal toxoplasmosis was prevented in mice starting treatment 3 and 6 days post infection at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate ponazuril's effect on chronic toxoplasmosis. Sections of brain were scored according to the number of tissue cysts present. Ponazuril also proved to be highly active against toxoplasmic encephalitis in an interferon-gamma knockout mouse model.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences

Department dc:contributor.department

Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Mitchell, Sheila

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Lindsay, David S.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Blagburn, Byron L.
• Witonsky, Sharon G.
• Sriranganathan, Nammalwar
• Zajac, Anne M.

• animal model
• monozoic cyst
• cell culture
• Toxoplasma gondii
• treatment
• Apicomplexa
• coccidia
• canine

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05082011-151930

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/27600