<i>In-vivo</i> Therapeutic Efficacy Trial with Artemisinin Derivative, Buparvaquone and Imidocarb Dipropionate against <i>Babesia equi</i> Infection in Donkeys

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The therapeutic efficacy of imidocarb, artesunate, arteether, buparvaquone and arteether+buparvaquone combination was evaluated against Babesia equi of Indian origin in splenectomised donkeys with experimentally induced acute infection. Efficacies of these drugs were tested by administering each drug or drug combination to groups of donkeys (having three donkeys each group). One gr oup of donkey was kept as untreated control for comparing the results. Parasitaemia, haematology (WBC, RBC, PCV, granulocytes and h aemoglobin), biochemical parameters (SAST, SALT, alkaline phosphatase, albumin/globulin ratio) were monitored at regular intervals. Individually, arteether and buparvaquone were found to have no parasite clearing efficacy and the treated animals died within 5-6 days after showing high parasitaemia and clinical symptoms of the disease. However, artesunate treated animals were able to restrict the parasite multiplication but only during the treatment period. Animals treated with imidocarb and arteether+buparvaquone combination were able to clear the parasite from the blood circulation after 2-5 days post-treatment (PT). After 55-58 days PT, recrudescence of B. equi parasite was observed in both these groups and a mean survival period of 66 days and 69 days, respectively, was recorded in these groups. Results of haemato-biochemical parameters had shown that imidocarb had deleterious effect on the liver function while on the other hand arteether+buparvaquone combination was found to be safe. This limited study indicates that arteether+buparvaquone combination c ould be a better choice than imidocarb for treating B. equi infection, but further trials are required in detail. KEY WORDS: artemisinin derivative, Babesia equi, buparvaquone, imidocarb dipropionate, treatment.

Extended-spectrum antiprotozoal bumped kinase inhibitors: A review

“…Imidocarb dipropionate, a dicationic diamidine of the carbanilide series of antiprotozoal compounds, has been effective against some of the T. equi strains causing infections in U.S. horses (Ueti, et al, 2012), making it the current drug of choice. However, variable responses to imidocarb treatment occur in both natural and experimental T. equi infection (Butler, et al, 2008, Frerichs, et al, 1973, Grause, et al, 2013, Knowles, 1996, Kumar, et al, 2003, Kumar, et al, 2009, Kuttler, et al, 1987, Ueti, et al, 2012), and we have recently documented treatment failure associated with in vitro imidocarb resistance (Hines, et al, 2015). Moreover, acute adverse effects are common due to the anticholinesterase activity of the drug (Tecles and Cerón, 2001).…”

Artemisinin and its derivatives in treating protozoan infections beyond malaria

“…However, in the arteether-buparvaquone combination group, recovery was observed as parasites were cleared after 4-day treatment. Arteether and buparvaquone combination regimen also seemed to be safer than imidocarb alone in this study [101]. …”

“…The routes of administration are mostly intramuscular [95, 101] but also intraperitoneal [94]. Calves infected with B. bigemina and B bovis were treated by artemisone (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and resulted in recovery of all animals, except for one B. bovis -infected calf.…”

Why the Donkey Did Not Go South: Disease as a Constraint on the Spread of Equus asinus into Southern Africa

“…Experimental infection of donkeys with T. (formerly B.) equi confirms its pathogenicity (Singh et al 1980;Kumar et al 2003), while Segwagwe et al (2000, p. 181) observe that in Botswana Bdonkeys are known to be equally as susceptible as horses to B. equi and B. caballi.^It thus seems likely that when donkeys with no previous history of exposure (and resistance) to equine piroplasmosis entered areas where they could be infected by ticks adapted to existing zebra reservoir populations they might well have suffered considerable losses. This possibility would be enhanced should it be possible to associate different clinical signs with the genetically distinct groups of T. equi now beginning to be identified (cf.…”