Inhibitory effects of novel ciprofloxacin derivatives on the growth of four Babesia species and Theileria equi

The problems of parasite resistance, as well as the toxic residues to most of the commercially available antipiroplasmic drugs severely weaken their effective, curative, and environmental safe employment. Therefore, it is clear that the development of treatment options for piroplasmosis is vital for improving disease treatment and control. Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that targets mainly the DNA replication machinery by inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase enzymes. As a result, ciprofloxacin is used for treating several bacterial and parasitic infections. In this study, the efficacy of 15 novel ciprofloxacin derivatives (NCD) that had been developed against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis was evaluated against piroplasm parasite multiplication in vitro. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values of the most effective five compounds of NCD ( No. 3 , 5 , 10 , 14 , 15 ) on Babesia bovis , Babesia bigemina , Babesia caballi , and Theileria equi were 32.9 , 13.7 , 14.9 , and 30.9 ; 14.9 , 25.8 , 13.6 , and 27.5 ; 34.9 , 33.9 , 21.1 , and 22.3 ; 26.7 , 28.3 , 34.5 , and 29.1 ; and 4.7 , 26.6 , 33.9 , and 29.1 μM, respectively. Possible detrimental effects of tested NCD on host cells were assessed using mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH/3T3) and Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell lines. Tested NCD did not suppress NIH/3T3 and MDBK cell viability, even at the highest concentration used (500 μM). Combination treatments of the identified most effective compounds of NCD/diminazene aceturate (DA), /atovaquone (AQ), and /clofazimine (CF) showed mainly synergistic and additive effects. The IC 50 values of NCD showed that they are promising future candidates against piroplasmosis. Further in vivo trials are required to evaluate the therapeutic potential of NCD.