Heprin inhibits growth of babesia

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Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2004 Jan;48(1):236-41.

Growth-inhibitory effect of heparin on Babesia parasites.

Bork S, Yokoyama N, Ikehara Y, Kumar S, Sugimoto C, Igarashi I.

National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of

Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555,

Japan.

We examined the inhibitory effects of three heparins on the growth of

Babesia parasites. The multiplication of Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B.

equi, and B. caballi in in vitro cultures and that of B. microti in vivo

were significantly inhibited in the presence of heparins, as determined by

light microscopy. Treatment with various concentrations of heparin showed

complete clearance of the intracellular parasites. Interestingly, a higher

percentage of abnormally multidividing B. bovis parasites was observed in

the presence of low concentrations of heparin. Furthermore, fluorescein

isothiocyanate-labeled heparin was preferably found on the surfaces of

extracellular merozoites, as detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

These findings indicate that the heparin covers the surfaces of babesial

merozoites and inhibits their subsequent invasion of erythrocytes.

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