Therapeutic efficacy of isometamidium chloride in the treatment of Trypanosoma congolense infection in Sokoto Red bucks

Treatment of animal trypanosomiasis using isometamidium chloride (ISM) is largely done with 1% solution however, 2% solution has been found to be more effective. In this study, therapeutic efficacy of ISM drug concentrations was studied in Trypanosoma congolense infected Sokoto Red Bucks (SRB). The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of the curative (1%) and prophylactic (2%) concentrations of ISM in the treatment of experimentally infected SRB with Trypanosoma congolense. Methods: Twelve SRB were divided into three groups of four animals each: Group I (1% ISM treated), Group II (2% ISM treated) at the dose rate of 0.5 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly and Group III (uninfected and untreated-Control). Groups I and II bucks were each inoculated intravenously with approximately 1x10 T. congolense. Clinical signs, rectal temperature, body weight, packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell count (TWBCC) were monitored. Wet-mount and micro haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT) were used to monitor the parasitaemia post-infection and post-treatment. Seven days post-treatment the blood from the treated groups were sub-inoculated into mice. Results: Group I had relapse of the infection two weeks post-treatment while no relapse of the infection was observed in the Group II till five weeks post-treatment. Significant (p < 0.05) changes in the PCV, WBCC and body weight were properly recorded as well as the clinical signs and the body weight. Significance: The 2% ISM confers better and longer cure than the 1% ISM in treating trypanosomosis in goat.