In vitro effect of two commercial anti-coccidial drugs against myxospores of Kudoa septempunctata genotype ST3 (Myxozoa, Multivalvulida)

Kudoa septempunctata (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida) myxospores infect the trunk muscles of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). In this study, two popular commercially formulated anti-coccidial drugs (amprolium hydrochloride and toltrazuril) were serially diluted and incubated with purified mature Kudoa septempunctata myxospores. The viability of K. septempunctata spores was determined after a 2-day incubation followed by Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide staining, and scanning electron microscopy. Amprolium hydrochloride significantly decreased spore viability (18% of control) at a concentration of 920 μg/mL, whereas toltrazuril showed almost no effect (83% of control). Viability of the control (untreated spores) was 90%. In vivo studies are required to confirm the efficacy of amprolium hydrochloride in fish infected with K. septempunctata myxospores on their growth and immune system performance.