Die Ultrastruktur der Trophozoiten und Merozoiten von Babesia herpailuri in Erythrozyten der Hauskatze nach Behandlung mit Imidocarb� (3,3?-bis-2-imidazolin-2-yl)-carbanilid

Abstract

The fine structure of trophozoites and especially of merozoites of Babesia herpailuri is described before and after treatment with Imidocarb (Wellcome). The mostly piriform to oval merozoites possess an outer membrane and a supporting membrane below. The intratorium consists of a polar ring, rhoptries micronemes and the sperical body which lies beside the big nucleus and next to mitochondria. The endoplasmic reticulum and invaginations are not clearly formed. The cellular changes of Babesia herpailuri, observed one hour after drug treatment in trophozoites and six hours later in merozoites, concern the form and function of the parasite: widening of the subpellicular endoplasmic reticulum and of the perinuclear space; sporadic dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum of the merozoites (9 fig.). Damaged membranes, dissolution of the cellular membrane, disintegration of the nuclei as are known effects of the Berenil treatment to Babesia herpailuri, are not noted results after the Imidocarb treatment. The original membrane systems of trophozoites as well as of merozoites, remain unaffected by the drug as long as investigations were carried on (24 h). The satisfying prophylactic effect of Imidocarb as well as the insignificant cellular damages on merozoites may be due to the small feeding of hemoglobin.

Chemotherapy of babesiosis

“…Degeneration continued until the organism consisted of a vacuole, and chromatin was condensed into an irregular mass of clumped material [24]. Similar ultrastructural changes were observed with Babesia herpailuri in the erythrocytes of cats after treatment with imidocarb, except that nuclear damage was not observed [25].…”

“…Chloroquine, diminazene, phenamidine, quinuronium, euflavin, trypan blue, imidocarb, and oxytetracycline were all ineffective against Babesia felis [10]. Babesia herpailuri, on the other hand, responds to imidocarb therapy, as well as diminazene, at 5 mg/kg [23,25,91].…”