naphthoquinones and diminazene-aceturate

Three antihaematozoal drugs were tested for the treatment of pigeons naturally infected with Haemoproteus columbae. Butalex (Buparvaquone) was found effective against the parasite either by using the recommended dose (R. D.) or the double (D. D.) dosis. The R. D. of Berenil (Diminazene aceturate) was not effective while the D. D. reduced the number of gametocytes circulating in the infected blood. Triquine was found very toxic to the pigeons both the R. D. and the D. D.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Antiprotozoal Agents; Bird Diseases; Coccidiosis; Columbidae; Diminazene; Haemosporida; Naphthoquinones; Quinolinium Compounds

We have previously developed a mouse model which allowed the proliferation of Theileria sergenti in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice with circulating bovine erythrocytes (Bo-RBC). In the present study, this model was utilized to test the efficacy of anti-theilerial drugs. Bo-RBC-SCID mice were created by giving periodic transfusions of T. sergenti-free Bo-RBC, and subsequently infecting with T. sergenti. Three anti-protozoal compounds, Pamaquine (Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd), Ganaseg (Japan CIBA-GEIGY Ltd) and Buparvaquone (Coopers Animal Health Ltd), were subcutaneously administered into the mice at doses recommended for cattle therapy. Blood examinations demonstrated that all three drugs significantly reduced the level of parasitemia although Ganaseg was effective only at a dose five times higher than that recommended for cattle therapy. Administration of the drugs neither caused any sign of acute toxicity nor changed the rate of Bo-RBC in the SCID mice's circulating blood cells. The results indicate that the Bo-RBC-SCID mouse model may offer a useful in vivo system for evaluating the efficacy of anti-protozoal drugs against T. sergenti.

Topics: Aminoquinolines; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Cattle; Diminazene; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Erythrocyte Transfusion; Female; Mice; Mice, SCID; Models, Biological; Naphthoquinones; Theileria

The efficacy of halofuginone (DL-trans-7-bromo-6-chloro-3,3-(3-hydroxy-2-piperidyl) acetonyl-4-(3H) quinazolinone), Wellcome 993 C (2-hydroxy-3-cyclohexyl-1,4-naphthoquinone), and oxytetracycline, all of which have been shown to have a schizonticidal effect in the treatment of bovine theileriosis, and the babesicidal drug diminazene diaceturate, were tested against the schizont stages of Babesia equi in cell culture. The in vitro test system measured DNA synthesis in treated and untreated cell lines. Halofuginone (0.02 microgram/ml) and Wellcome 993 C (5 micrograms/ml) suppressed the incorporation of tritiated thymidine by more than 80%. Oxytetracycline was less effective, while diminazene diaceturate showed no notable effect. The insufficient schizonticidal activity may explain the failure of diminazene diaceturate to cure B. equi infections. Schizonticidal drugs either alone, or in combination with known babesicidal drugs, should be tested in the chemotherapy of B. equi infections.

Topics: Amidines; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Babesia; Cell Line; Diminazene; DNA; Lymphocytes; Naphthoquinones; Oxytetracycline; Piperidines; Quinazolines; Quinazolinones; Thymidine