Antioxidant enzymes in Acanthocheilonema viteae and effect of antifilarial agents

Adult worms of Acanthocheilonema viteae were found to be susceptible to the reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) generated by the xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X-XO) system. The damage caused by this system was completely abolished by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase but not by mannitol. The results, therefore, suggest that superoxide anions (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) alone or in combination might be toxic to the filariid. A. viteae exhibited the presence of an active enzyme system to protect itself against the oxidants. SOD and catalase were present in high levels of activities and appeared to constitute the major defence system. The role of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), on the other hand, seemed less important due to the weak activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). A. viteae also released SOD, catalase and GPx in the ambient medium, which appear useful in protecting the filariid against ROI generated by the host in the immediate surroundings of the parasite. Antifilarial agents, diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and 2,2'-dicarbomethoxylamino-5,5'-dibenzimidazolyl ketone (82/437) appreciably inhibited catalase and GPx of A. viteae. Inhibition of these enzymes appears to render the parasite prone to H2O2 toxicity leading to death. No adverse effect on antioxidant enzymes of liver, lungs and subcutaneous tissue of Mastomys natalensis recorded as a result of exposure to 82/437 suggests a non-toxic nature to the compound.