DIMINAZENE ACETURATE ON THE TREATMENT OF EQUINES NATURALLY INFECTED BY Trypanosoma evansi IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CRUZ ALTA – RS, BRAZIL

Abstract

The aim of this study was to report the efficacy of diminazene aceturate on the control of equine trypanosomiasis by Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) in the municipality of Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul state. Uncoordinated gait with instability of the hindlimbs were observed in four animals. The flagellated form of T. evansi was observed in peripheral blood smears and the strain was isolated after inoculation in Wistar rats with blood of one animal. All equines received three doses of 7mg kg^-1 of diminazene aceturate (days zero, 7^th and 14^th). No clinical signs of the disease were observed 30 days after the first dose, although 90 days after the beginning of the treatment the same therapy was repeated in one of the mares which showed uncoordinated gait, fever, anorexy and weight loss. Physical examination and peripheral blood smears performed one year after the treatment showed great nutritional status and elimination of protozoa from peripheral blood circulation of all the four animals. We concluded that diminazene aceturate, in this protocol, was effective on the treatment of equine trypanosomiasis.