title: Effect of diminazene aceturate, levamisole and vitamin C combination therapy in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of diminazene aceturate (DA) alone or in combination with either levamisole and/or Vitamin C in albino rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty adult male albino rats, randomly assigned into 6 groups (A-F) of 5 rats each were used. They were either infected with 1×10(6) trypanosomes intraperitoneally (groups A-E) or uninfected (group F). The different groups were treated respectively as follows: group A-with 3.5 mg/kg DA; group B-3.5 mg/kg DA and 7.5 mg/kg levamisole; group C-3.5 mg/kg DA and 100 mg/kg vitamin C; and group D-3.5 mg/kg DA and 7.5 mg/kg levamisole and 100 mg/kg vitamin C. Group E was left untreated. Parameters assessed include: rectal temperature, body weight changes, packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), total leucocyte count (TLC) differential leucocyte count (DLC), parasitaemia, clinical signs and survivability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average pre-patent period of 5 days was recorded. Parasites in the blood were cleared in all treated groups (A-D) within 48 hours post treatment (PT). Untreated rats in group E died between 25 and 32 days post infection (PI). Relapse was not recorded in all the treated groups (A-D). The initial reduction in PCV, Hb, TLC and increases in rectal temperature following infection were reversed by the treatments. The rats that received drug combinations (groups B, C and D) showed faster and higher recovery rates than the uninfected control and group A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levamisole and/or Vitamin C combination with DA were more effective in the treatment of rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei.
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
authors: Adieme Ijeoma
authors: AI
authors: Chekwube
authors: Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Electronic address: ikenna.ezeh@unn.edu.ng.
authors: Ezeh Ikenna
authors: EI
authors: Onyema
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
authors: Ugochukwu Emmanuel
authors: UE
authors: Ikenna
authors: Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
authors: Romanus Chukwuduruo
authors: RC
authors: Ezeokonkwo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004133:Diminazene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007978:Levamisole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D059208:Parasite Load; D051381:Rats; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D007978:Levamisole; C003915:diminazene aceturate; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D004133:Diminazene
keywords: Diminazene aceturate; Levamisole; Rats; Therapy; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Vitamin C