Tendo em conta os dados apresentados acima, é imperativo desenvolver novas terapias para esta patologia, que substituam ou complementem as já existentes. A otimização de compostos de origem sintética, direcionados para alvos conhecidos de A. ocellatum, (do inglês, “target-based design”), pode ser o caminho a seguir. Contudo, no campo da identificação de alvos metabólicos ou intracelulares que possam ser relevantes do ponto de vista farmacológico existe ainda muito trabalho a realizar, pois a informação disponível acerca das vias metabólicas, alterações fisiológicas provocadas pelo parasita no hospedeiro e informações sobre a genética ou funcionamento metabólico do parasita é escassa. Estudos mais aprofundados do parasita e da reação fisiológica dos hospedeiros ao mesmo, por técnicas de “high throughput”, como sequenciação e análise do genoma, transcriptoma, e proteómica, permitirão abrir novos horizontes na sua caracterização e elucidar possíveis vias de ação para novos compostos com atividade terapêutica.
Alguns novos produtos têm vindo a ser testados com bons resultados, como a suplementação da ração com extratos de plantas68. Contudo, é importante testar também outras classes de compostos com atividade conhecida contra parasitas protozoários e relativamente aos quais se conheçam os perfis de toxicidade e outros dados farmacocinéticos relevantes. Neste âmbito surgem os endoperóxidos, uma classe de compostos que pode ser utilizada em parasitas com ciclos complexos69, como o A. ocellatum. Uma vantagem adicional desta classe é a facilidade de síntese, proporcionando a produção de compostos otimizados a custos controlados.
A identificação de compostos que levem à utilização de novas terapias é essencial para minimizar o impacto deste parasita na aquacultura, contribuindo para a viabilidade económica da produção de peixes em sistemas de tanques de terra, em Portugal e noutros países do Sul da Europa.
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