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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: B. bigemina is a highly pathogenic and widely distributed tick-borne disease parasite responsible for bovine babesiosis. The development of effective and safe therapies is urgently needed for global disease control. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of endochin-like quinolone (ELQ-316), buparvaquone (BPQ), imidocarb (ID), and the combinations of ID + ELQ-316 and BPQ + ELQ-316, on in vitro survival of B. bigemina. Methods: Parasites at a starting parasitemia level of 2%, were incubated with each single drug and a combination of drugs, ranging from 25 to 1200 nM of concentration over four consecutive days. The inhibitory concentrations, 50% (IC50%) and 99% (IC99%), were estimated. Parasitemia levels were evaluated daily using microscopic examination. Data were statistically compared using the non-parametrical Kruskall–Wallis test. Results: All drugs tested significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) the growth of B. bigemina at 2% parasitemia. The combination of ID + ELQ-316 exhibited a lower mean (IC50%: 9.2; confidence interval 95%: 8.7–9.9) than ID (IC50%: 61.5; confidence interval 95%: 59.54–63.46), ELQ-316 (IC50%: 48.10; confidence interval 95%: 42.76–58.83), BPQ (IC50%: 44.66; confidence interval 95%: 43.56–45.81), and BPQ + ELQ-316 (IC50%: 27.59; confidence interval: N/A). Parasites were no longer viable in cultures treated with the BPQ + ELQ-316 combination, as well as with BPQ alone at a concentration of 1200 nM, on days 2 and 3 of treatment, respectively. Conclusions: BPQ and ID increase the babesiacidal effect of ELQ-316. The efficacy of these combinations deserves to be evaluated in vivo, which could lead to a promising and safer treatment option for B. bigemina.

Details

Title
Enhanced Anti-Babesia Efficacy of Buparvaquone and Imidocarb When Combined with ELQ-316 In Vitro Culture of Babesia bigemina
Author
Cardillo, Natalia M 1 ; Villarino, Nicolas F 2 ; Lacy, Paul A 3 ; Doggett, Joseph S 4 ; Riscoe, Michael K 5   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Suarez, Carlos E 6 ; Ueti, Massaro W 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Chung, Chungwon J 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3003 ADBF, WSU, Pullman, WA 99163, USA; [email protected] (P.A.L.); [email protected] (M.W.U.); Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA 
 Program in Individualized Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; [email protected] 
 Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3003 ADBF, WSU, Pullman, WA 99163, USA; [email protected] (P.A.L.); [email protected] (M.W.U.) 
 VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA; [email protected] (J.S.D.); [email protected] (M.K.R.); School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA 
 VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA; [email protected] (J.S.D.); [email protected] (M.K.R.); Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA 
 Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA 
First page
218
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
14248247
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3171210602
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.