MITOCHONDRIAL-FUNCTION IN BABESIA-MICROTI AND BABESIA-RODHAINI

The role of mitochondria in the energy metabolism of Babesia microti a nd Babesia rodhaini was investigated. A variety of mitochondrial inhib itors showed greater sensitivity to B. microti than to B. rodhaini. Ad ditionally, alpha-glycerophosphate- and succinate-cytochrome c reducta se activities in the crude mitochondrial fraction from B. microti were substantially higher than those from B. rodhaini. Our results suggest that the mitochondria of these parasites possess a series of ''classi cal'' apparati for energy production and their relative functional rol e may be quantitatively greater in B. microti when compared with B. ro dhaini. (C) 1998 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Els evier Science Ltd.