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Veterinary parasitology2007; 151(2-4); 320-322; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.11.010

Repeated high dose imidocarb dipropionate treatment did not eliminate Babesia caballi from naturally infected horses as determined by PCR-reverse line blot hybridization.

Abstract: Imidocarb treatment of horses infected with Babesia caballi is supposed to eliminate the infection, but data on the efficacy of this treatment is scarce. The study presented here concerns four Paso Fino horses, which were imported into the island of Curacao on the basis of a piroplasmosis negative complement fixation test (CFT). Upon re-testing with an indirect fluorescent antibody test immediately after arrival in Curacao, two horses appeared to have antibodies to B. caballi and all horses had antibodies to Theileria equi. Subsequent testing with polymerase chain reaction combined with a reverse line blot yielded positive results for both agents in all four horses. Treatment with five consecutive doses of imidocarb dipropionate (4.7 mg/kg BW im q 72 h), temporarily resulted in negative results, but B. caballi and T. equi were detected again in the samples taken at 6 and 18 weeks after completion of the treatment. These results confirm that the CFT is not a suitable test for pre-import testing and that even high dose treatment with imidocarb may not be capable of eliminating B. caballi and T. equi infections from healthy carriers.
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Publication Date: 2007-11-17 PubMed ID: 18160222DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.11.010Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research indicates that high doses of imidocarb dipropionate treatment do not permanently eliminate Babesia caballi, a type of parasite, from horses even though it is commonly used for this purpose.

Objective

This study aimed to understand the effectiveness of imidocarb dipropionate treatment in naturally infected horses with Babesia caballi. The specific focus was on whether the treatment could completely eliminate the infection.

Methodology

  • The study involved four Paso Fino horses that were imported into the island of Curacao.
  • The horses were initially subjected to a piroplasmosis-negative complement fixation test (CFT) before their entrance in Curacao.
  • After their arrival, the horses were re-tested using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. It was discovered that two horses had antibodies to B. caballi and all four had antibodies to Theileria equi, another parasite.
  • The horses underwent further testing using a polymerase chain reaction combined with a reverse line blot which revealed positive results for both B. caballi and Theileria equi infections.
  • The horses were then treated with five consecutive doses of imidocarb dipropionate (4.7 mg/kg BW im q 72 h).

Findings

  • This treatment initially resulted in negative results, suggesting the parasites were eliminated.
  • However, both B. caballi and T. equi were detected again in the samples taken at 6 and 18 weeks after the completion of the treatment.
  • The occurrence of these parasites after the treatment indicates the inability of imidocarb dipropionate to entirely eliminate the infections.
  • This study also pointed out that the CFT was not an adequate test for pre-import testing of horses due to its inability to accurately detect the presence of B. caballi.

Conclusion of the Study

  • The findings confirmed that even with high dose treatment of imidocarb dipropionate, the drug is incapable of completely eliminating B. caballi and T. equi infections from horses, contradicting the common perception of its effectiveness.
  • This study suggests the need for a more reliable pre-import testing mechanism to prevent the unnecessary spread of these infections.

Cite This Article

APA
Butler CM, Nijhof AM, van der Kolk JH, de Haseth OB, Taoufik A, Jongejan F, Houwers DJ. (2007). Repeated high dose imidocarb dipropionate treatment did not eliminate Babesia caballi from naturally infected horses as determined by PCR-reverse line blot hybridization. Vet Parasitol, 151(2-4), 320-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.11.010

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 151
Issue: 2-4
Pages: 320-322

Researcher Affiliations

Butler, C M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Medicine Section, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.153, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. c.m.butler@uu.nl
Nijhof, A M
    van der Kolk, J H
      de Haseth, O B
        Taoufik, A
          Jongejan, F
            Houwers, D J

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
              • Antiprotozoal Agents / standards
              • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use
              • Babesia / isolation & purification
              • Babesiosis / diagnosis
              • Babesiosis / drug therapy
              • Babesiosis / veterinary
              • Blotting, Southern / veterinary
              • Complement Fixation Tests / standards
              • Complement Fixation Tests / veterinary
              • DNA, Protozoan / blood
              • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
              • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
              • Horses
              • Imidocarb / analogs & derivatives
              • Imidocarb / standards
              • Imidocarb / therapeutic use
              • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
              • Theileria / isolation & purification
              • Theileriasis / diagnosis
              • Time Factors

              Citations

              This article has been cited 12 times.
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