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Nitrite inhibits hydrogen production and kills the cattle parasite Tritrichomonas foetus
Author(s) -
Lloyd D.,
Williams A.S.,
James C.J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2002.01716.x
Subject(s) - tritrichomonas foetus , parasite hosting , biology , microaerophile , microbiology and biotechnology , nitrite , chemistry , biochemistry , fetus , bacteria , pregnancy , genetics , world wide web , computer science , ecology , nitrate
Aims: To investigate the effects of NaNO 2 on the microaerophilic flagellated protozoan, Tritrichomonas foetus KV1, an economically important cattle parasite that inhabits the vagina and can spread rapidly through herds of animals by sexual transmission and leads to abortion of foetal calves.
Methods and Results: Growth of the parasite was inhibited by 50% in the presence of 4 m m NaNO 2 ; immediate killing occurred at 10 m m . Mass spectrometric monitoring of gases showed that H 2 and CO 2 evolution were inhibited by NaNO 2 , and electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry revealed a signal similar to that of a thiolate–iron–NO complex. Growth with sublethal concentrations of NaNO 2 yielded organisms that produced ethanol rather than H 2 .
Conclusions: NaNO 2 probably inactivates FeS protein(s) of hydrogenosomes so as to inhibit the conversion of pyruvate (derived from maltose in the growth medium) to H 2 and acetate.
Significance and Impact of the Study: The use of NaNO 2 as a topical antitrichomonal agent in veterinary practice is a possibility. At present, slaughter of infected animals is the favoured method of control.