Efficacy of repeated doses of diminazene aceturate (Dinazene®) in the treatment of experimentalTrypanosoma bruceiinfection of Albino rats.
The efficacy of repeated doses of Dinazene®in Albino rats experimentally infected withTrypanosoma brucei(Gboko strain) was investigated. A total of 30 adult female Albino rats weighing 130-190 g were used for the study. They were assigned to six groups (groups A-F) of five rats each. Groups A-D were infected intraperitoneally with 1.0 × 106trypanosomes in 400 µL of PBS diluted blood while groups E (uninfected treated) and F (uninfected untreated) served as controls. The rats in the groups A-D as well as those in group E were treated with 7.0 mg/kg body weight at day 11 post infection. Groups B, C and D however received two, three and four repeated doses of the drug at weekly intervals following initial treatment. There was complete clearance of the parasite within 120 h post treatment. Parasitaemia, packed cell volume (PCV), total red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, haemoglobin concentration (Hb), rectal temperature, and body weight were used to assay the efficacy of treatment. Following treatment and parasite clearance from the blood, there was improvement (P<0.05) in the values of parameters measured when compared to the uninfected controls. However, relapse infection was observed in the rats of group A, B and C, with a resultant decline in clinical condition and values of parameters used to assess efficacy. We concluded that four consecutive treatments using same dose at weekly intervals proved efficacious in the experimental management ofT. bruceiinfection in rats.
Ph.D. Student in Veterinary Protozoology, Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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Ezeh
Graduated from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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Ugwu
Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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Enemuo
Ph.D. Student in Veterinary Protozoology, Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State, Nigeria.
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Obi
Ph.D. Student in Veterinary Entomology, Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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Iheagwam
Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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Ezeokonkwo
Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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Onah
Dinazene®; Haematology; Rat; Repeat treatment; Trypanosoma brucei