Animal trypanosomosis: making quality control of trypanocidal drugs possible

The animal trypanosomiases and their chemotherapy: a review

“…Unfortunately, most livestock keepers in the affected regions have limited access to tools which (a) enable accurate diagnosis, and frequently farmers are reliant solely on clinical signs, which are often not pathognomonic; and (b) provide information or training regarding optimal drug usage and dosage, and this combination of factors can lead to drug misuse (Van den Bossche et al 2000; Grace et al 2009). Moreover, in an unregulated market, poor quality or counterfeit trypanocides are widespread in some areas, especially in Africa, where documented product specifications are scarce (Sutcliffe et al 2014; Tchamdja et al 2016). To improve veterinary drug standards and tackle the issue of counterfeit drugs two laboratories for trypanocide quality control checks were recently set up in Africa (one in Dakar and one in Dar Es Salaam) thanks to a GALVmed-FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) initiative with other collaborating partners (Sutcliffe et al 2014).…”

“…Moreover, in an unregulated market, poor quality or counterfeit trypanocides are widespread in some areas, especially in Africa, where documented product specifications are scarce (Sutcliffe et al 2014; Tchamdja et al 2016). To improve veterinary drug standards and tackle the issue of counterfeit drugs two laboratories for trypanocide quality control checks were recently set up in Africa (one in Dakar and one in Dar Es Salaam) thanks to a GALVmed-FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) initiative with other collaborating partners (Sutcliffe et al 2014). …”

“…It is widely used in Africa to treat T. congolense and T. vivax infections in cattle, sheep and goats, in spite of its proven mutagenic and possible carcinogenic properties as a DNA intercalator (Sutcliffe et al 2014). Due to its potential toxicity, the use of homidium is today highly discouraged (Sutcliffe et al 2014). Widespread resistance to the drug in the 1960s and 1970s reduced its usage.…”

“…irregular treatment or prolonged intervals between treatments), or to under-dosage. The latter can result from poor drug quality (either due to inappropriate storage or to the use of counterfeit products) (Sutcliffe et al 2014), or from incorrect drug usage (wrong dilution, use of unsterilized water or erroneous dosage due to inaccurate estimation of the animal weight) (Van den Bossche et al 2000; Grace et al 2009). For phenanthridines, in particular isometamidium, the adverse reaction which often appears at the injection site might possibly alter drug absorption and diminish the levels of drug in circulation (Kinabo, 1993), thus determining under-dosage.…”

Developing a Progressive Control Pathway for African Animal Trypanosomosis

“…There is no vaccine for AAT. Chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis remain the mainstay of disease control, but available veterinary trypanocides are outmoded [21], substandard and counterfeit products are widespread [22,23], and drug resistance is increasing [21,24]. The presence of a wildlife reservoir makes AAT elimination very challenging, if at all possible, unless the vectors are removed in a sustainable way.…”