In vitro activity of the polyether ionophorous antibiotic monensin against the cyst form of Toxoplasma gondii

We have studied the activity of the polyether ionophorous antibiotic monensin against the cyst form (bradyzoite) of Toxoplasma gondii. The experiments were conducted in vitro using 2 methods; cysts produced either in mice or in cell culture were exposed to monensin in vitro, and the infectivity of the parasites was then assessed in vivo or in vitro. The data obtained from these 2 systems of evaluation showed that monensin inhibits the infectivity and the viability of the bradyzoites. Its activity was time and concentration dependent. The first effects were observed at very low drug concentrations (i,e. 0.0001 mug/ml). Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy analysis showed significant cytological alterations of the monensin-treated bradyzoites: they were swollen, had a large number of vacuoles in their cytoplasm and were found lysed at higher concentrations in ionophore.