Trypanosomiasis control in Boran cattle in Kenya: a comparison between chemoprophylaxis and a parasite detection and intravenous treatment method using isometamidium chloride.
Two methods of trypanosome control in Boran cattle kept under very high trypanosomiasis risk were compared: the traditional intramuscular isometamidium chloride prophylaxis with a parasite detection and intravenous isometamidium chloride treatment method. The results were related to a control group under diminazene aceturate treatment. Isometamidium chloride at 0.25 mg/kg as routinely used by the ranch was of little benefit by either method, with breakthrough infections occurring as early as one week after treatment. When isometamidium chloride at 1 mg/kg was used, the curative intravenous method appeared to be superior to the intramuscular prophylaxis with regard to cost of drugs and to a 31% higher weight gain over a 30 week period. Weekly infection rates in the intravenous group decreased over time, despite an increasing trypanosomiasis challenge, with a mean interval of 6.4 weeks between treatments as compared with 4.3 weeks in a diminazene aceturate control group. It was concluded that isometamidium chloride given intravenously had not only a very good therapeutic but also a considerable prophylactic effect of not less than four weeks.
Münstermann
S
S
Witu Veterinary Laboratory, Witu/Lamu, Kenya.
Mbura
R J
RJ
Maloo
S H
SH
Löhr
K F
KF
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004133:Diminazene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010617:Phenanthridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014348:Trypanosoma congolense / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016689:Trypanosoma vivax / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D014354:Trypanosomiasis, Bovine / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D010617:Phenanthridines; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; C000702:isometamidium chloride; C003915:diminazene aceturate; D004133:Diminazene