Cattle experimentally infected with Babesia bigemina or Theileria sergenti or mixed infestations of the two parasites were treated with Total Alkaloid of Peganum harmala L. The results showed that treatment was effective against B. bigemina infection, had a marked effect on the course of infection with T. sergenti and some effect on the course of the mixed infection.

Eighty two cattle naturally infected with haemosporidians were treated with total alkaloid hydrochloride of Peganum harmale L. (0.5 mg/kg/day). Fifty eight cases with Theileria sergenti showed a cure rate of 86%; thirteen cases with Theileria annulata showed a cure rate of 85%; eight cattle infected with Babesia bigemina showed a cure rate of 88% and three cases of Anaplasma marginale were completely cured. The results suggested that the curative effect of total alkaloid of P. harmale was better than that of diminazene aceturate and produced minimal side effects. The alkaloid could also be administered to pregnant animals. It was concluded that the total alkaloid of P. harmale showed a marked effect as a treatment for haemosporidican infections in cattle.