Evaluation of isometamidium levels in the serum of sheep and goats after prophylactic treatment against trypanosomosis.
Isometamidium chloride has been used for the control of trypanosomosis in animals for over 36 years, but recently there have been reports of prophylaxis failure under natural conditions. In this study, use of the drug for prophylactic purpose against trypanosomosis in small ruminants was investigated. Forty-two sheep and 44 goats were divided into four treatment groups. Groups 1 and 2 were treated with isometamidium chloride (Samorin, Rhone Merieux, Lyon, France) at 3-month intervals while groups 3 and 4 were used as controls. All the animals were exposed to natural tsetse challenge and monitored for serum isometamidium levels and anti-trypanosome antibodies. Seven days after drug administration, isometamidium levels were significantly higher in goats 13.7+/-0.07 ng/ml than in sheep 6.2+/-0.06 ng/ml. However, the elimination half-life in the sheep was 14.2+/-0.92 days and was significantly higher (P> 0.05) than that of the goats 12+/-0.5 days. This study established that isometamidium metabolism differs between sheep and goats and this difference may have important implications in high tsetse challenge areas.
Wesongah
J O
JO
Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, Kikuyu, Kenya. jwesongah@hotmail.com
Murilla
G A
GA
Kibugu
J K
JK
Jones
T W
TW
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006041:Goats / Q000097:blood*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D010617:Phenanthridines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood*; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D013045:Species Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000469:parasitology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D010617:Phenanthridines; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; C000702:isometamidium chloride