Clinical Effects of Mixed Infection of Trypanosomes and Ancylostoma caninum in Dogs and Treatment with Diminazene and Mebendazole (Nigeria) | Chapter 01 | Current Trends in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 3
Trypanosomos is is one of the major
diseases ravaging animals in Nigeria especially within Nsukka area in Enugu
State. All species of trypanosomes, with the exception of some strains of T.
vivax which produce a hyper acute and acute infection, are characterized by
high parasitaemia, pyrexia, severe anaemia and haemorrhages on the mucosal and
serosal surfaces. The socio-economic importance of trypanosomosis and
ancylostomosis in both humans and animal necessitated the investigation of the
clinical signs of single and conjunct infection of both parasites in dogs.
Sixteen dogs grouped into 4 of 4 members each were used in the study. GROUP I
was uninfected dogs (control), GROUP II was infected with Ancylostoma caninum GROUP
III was infected
with Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), GROUP IV
was mixed infections
of Trypanosoma brucei and
Ancylostoma caninum (T. brucei/A. caninum). Post acclimatization, Ancylostoma caninum infection was
done on GPII
and GPIV. Two weeks
later Trypanosoma brucei infections was
done on GPIII
and superimposed on GPIV. Three weeks post trypanosome infection;
GPIII and GPIV were treated with 7 mg/kg diminazene aceturate (Veribin®, CEVA
Sante Animale- La Ballasteiére 33501 Libourne Cedex, France) x intramuscularly
x once. Mebendazole (Vermin®, Janssen-Cilag Ltd 50 -100 Holmers Farm Way, High
Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 4EG UK) at 100 mg x
per os twice daily for 3 days was used
only on GPII and GPIV and a repeat treatment given 2 weeks later. Prepatent
period of T. brucei infection was
5.00±1.30 days in single infection and
3.00±1.40 days in
conjunct infection of T.
brucei and A. caninum. Persistent
parasitaemia resulted in repeated treatment with diminazene aceturate at 7
mg/kg and mebendazole at 100 mg
twice daily for
3 days. The predominant
signs revealed include;
fluctuation in weight, lethargy, vomition,
enlargement of popliteal lymphnodes, pyrexia,
oedema of lower
jaw and ocular discharges, enlarged
abdomen, anaemia, cornea
opacity and slight
emaciation. The clinical
signs were most severe
in GPIV compared
to GPIII. The
egg per gram
of faeces (EPG)
in GPII was significantly higher
than the mixed
infection (GPIV). Treatment
only slightly improved
clinical manifestations. In
conclusion, most signs
shown were consistent
with trypanosomosis in
dogs except abdominal enlargement which
is a complication
of A. caninum. Clinical
signs therefore could
serve as a diagnostic tool in the treatment of both
conditions in dogs. The severity of the disease conditions was more in
the conjunct group compared
to the single
infection. Treatment of
the diseases with diminazene aceturate and mebendazole
caused slight improvement in the clinical condition due to the resistant strain
of T. brucei used in the study.
Author(s) Details
Dr. Rosemary I. O. Nwoha
Department of Veterinary
Medicine, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.O.Box 824, Nigeria.
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