Effect of diminazene aceturate,levamisole and vitamin C combination therapy in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine 2014-06, Vol.7 (6), p.438-445
• Main Authors: Chekwube, Adieme Ijeoma, Onyema, Ezeh Ikenna, Ikenna, Ugochukwu Emmanuel, Ezeokonkwo, Romanus Chukwuduruo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aceturate; Animals; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; Ascorbic Acid - adverse effects; Ascorbic Acid - therapeutic use; Body Temperature - drug effects; Body Weight - drug effects; brucei; Diminazene; Diminazene - administration & dosage; Diminazene - adverse effects; Diminazene - analogs & derivatives; Diminazene - therapeutic use; Diminazene aceturate; Drug Therapy, Combination; Hemoglobins - analysis; Leukocyte Count; Levamisole; Levamisole - administration & dosage; Levamisole - adverse effects; Levamisole - therapeutic use; Male; Parasite Load; Rats; Therapy; Trypanocidal Agents - administration & dosage; Trypanocidal Agents - adverse effects; Trypanocidal Agents - therapeutic use; Trypanosoma; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosomiasis, African - drug therapy; Trypanosomiasis, African - veterinary; Vitamin; Vitamin C
• ISSN: 1995-7645; 2352-4146
• DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60071-7

Objective:To investigate the effect of diminazene aceturale(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 5rats each were used.They were either infected with 1×10~a 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.S mg/kg DA and 100 mg/kg vitamin C;and group D-3.S mg/kg DA and 7.S mg/kg levamisole and 100 mg/kg vitamin C.Croup 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 between25 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.