Mode of Action

Ionophore
In the absence of ionophore, the parasite
maintains osmotic balance.
Coccidia:
sporozoite
or merozoite
stage
Intacellular:
High Potassium
Low Sodium
“Stored Energy”

Na+ Cell wall

Requiring energy,
Extracellular:
the Na:K
Low Potassium
pump helps maintain
High Sodium
K+ osmotic balance
In the presence of ionophore, intracellular Na
increases.

Na+ Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Narasin facilitates
Na+ the transport of Na
“Stored Energy”
into the cell.

Na+

Na:K pump.
K+
Ionophore continues to facilitate the influx of
Na while the cell tries to maintain osmotic
balance.
Na+ Na+
Na+ Na+
+ +
Na+ Na Na
Na+
In an attempt to
“Stored Energy” maintain osmotic
balance water is
H2O drawn into the cell.
Na+
H2O
H2O

The Na:K pump is activated

to maintain ion balance.
K+
The influx of Na and water continues while
the cell begins to deplete its energy stores.

Na+ Na+
Na+ Continued influx
Na+ of Na and water.
+ +
Na+ Na Na
Na+
H2O
“Stored Energy” H2O
H2O H2O
Na+ H2O H2O

The Na:K pump

uses up the cells
limited supply of
K+ energy
Increased intracellular pressure and (or)
depleted energy reserves result in parasite
death.
Structural
damage
Na+ Na+ Na+ including
membrane
+ +
Na+ Na+ Na Na H O separation
+
H2O Na
2 , cellular
swelling
H2O and
H2O vacuolizati
H2O on occurs
Energy Stores H2O with
Depleted overall cell
degenerati
on.

Without energy the sodium potassium

pump shuts down.