In vitro activity of therapeutic drugs against Histomonas meleagridis (Smith, 1895)

Histomoniasis or blackhead is a life-threatening disease of turkeys that is caused by a flagellated protozoan, Histomonas meleagridis. The development of an assay to measure the sensitivity of drugs traditionally used against this parasite, as reputed to be effective against other protozoan parasites, is described. The in vitro minimum lethal concentrations (MLC), time for drug efficacy, and parasite viability after removal of residual drugs were determined. Three of the 10 tested drugs, fenbendazole, albendazole, and sulfadiazine, were found to be ineffective against H. meleagridis. Nifursol, the only compound still authorized as a feed additive in Europe, is an inhibiting agent but is not lethal in vitro. Roxarsone, an arsenical derivate similar to nitarsone (the only authorized drug in United States), is effective at high concentration (200 microg/mL) after a long exposure (48 h). The lethal activity of dimetridazole, metronidazole, ronidazole, tinidazole, and furazolidone in vitro was demonstrated. Dimetridazole (MLC = 25 microg/mL after 6 h of exposure), metronidazole (MLC = 50 microg/mL after 24 h), and furazolidone (MLC = 50 microg/mL after 24 h) are rapidly effective at low concentrations. These results confirm the effectiveness of dimetridazole, a drug that has been used in the treatment and prevention of blackhead. In May 2002 this compound was removed as feed additive in Europe.