Safety of ponazuril 15% oral paste in horses.
Abstract: Ponazuril, a triazine-derivative compound, is proposed as a treatment for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis caused by Sarcocystis neurona. Ponazuril 15% oral paste was administered to 24 horses at 0, 10, or 30 mg/kg body weight for either 28 or 56 days, representing zero, two, and six times the proposed dosage rate and one and two times the recommended duration of treatment, respectively. Serum chemistry analysis, coagulation profile, and hematology measurements were performed weekly and necropsy evaluations, including histopathology, were conducted for all animals at the end of the study. Minimal reactions were noted during the treatment period. Soft stools were observed in four of 16 treated horses and three of eight control animals. Serum blood urea nitrogen levels increased and serum sodium levels decreased in horses receiving 10 mg/kg; however, these changes were not associated with number of days on treatment and no value for either variable was outside the normal reference range. No signs of colic were observed in any treated animal during the study. At necropsy, uterine edema was noted in three of the four mares treated with ponazuril at 30 mg/kg. No other treatment-related postmortem or histologic abnormalities were identified in any of the horses. These findings suggest that ponazuril has minimal toxic potential when dosed at levels up to six times the recommended clinical dosage and for one or two times longer than the recommended duration.
Publication Date: 2001-07-01 PubMed ID: 19746665
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigated the safety of a drug known as Ponazuril in horses. The study found that it had minimal adverse effects, even when given at higher than recommended dosages and for longer than recommended durations.
Research Design and Methodology
- The researchers used a sample of 24 horses for this study.
- They administered Ponazuril 15% oral paste to these horses at varying doses (0, 10, or 30 mg/kg body weight) and for varying durations (either 28 or 56 days). This represents zero, two, and six times the proposed dosage rate, and one and two times the recommended duration of treatment, respectively.
- The team conducted regular examinations, including serum chemistry analysis, coagulation profile, and hematology measurements.
- All the animals were also subjected to necropsy evaluations including histopathology at the end of the research period.
Findings and Observations
- Throughout the treatment period, minimal reactions were observed among the horses. Soft stools were observed both in the treated horses and the controls, suggesting this symptom might not be specifically linked to the Ponazuril medication.
- There were changes in serum blood urea nitrogen and serum sodium levels in horses receiving the dosage of 10 mg/kg. However, these changes did not correlate with the number of treatment days and they were still maintained within the normal reference range.
- None of the treated animals showed any signs of colic during the entire study period.
- A most notable concern was uterine edema observed in three out of the four mares treated with the highest dosage of Ponazuril at 30 mg/kg.
- However, other than this, no other postmortem or histologic abnormalities were identified in any of the horses. This suggests that higher doses and/or longer administration of Ponazuril might cause some specific issues in mares but not other side effects.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that Ponazuril has minimal toxic potential in horses even when dosed at levels up to six times the recommended clinical dosage and for one or two times longer than the recommended duration.
- The researchers suggest that Ponazuril may be an effective and safe treatment for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis caused by Sarcocystis neurona.
Cite This Article
APA
Kennedy T, Campbell J, Selzer V.
(2001).
Safety of ponazuril 15% oral paste in horses.
Vet Ther, 2(3), 223-231.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Bayer Corporation Animal Health, 9009 West 67th Street, Merriam, KS 66202, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Antiprotozoal Agents / administration & dosage
- Antiprotozoal Agents / adverse effects
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horses
- Male
- Triazines / administration & dosage
- Triazines / adverse effects
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Dahlström M, Madjid N, Nordvall G, Halldin MM, Vazquez-Juarez E, Lindskog M, Sandin J, Winblad B, Eriksdotter M, Forsell P. Identification of Novel Positive Allosteric Modulators of Neurotrophin Receptors for the Treatment of Cognitive Dysfunction. Cells 2021 Jul 23;10(8).
- Dubey JP, Howe DK, Furr M, Saville WJ, Marsh AE, Reed SM, Grigg ME. An update on Sarcocystis neurona infections in animals and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Vet Parasitol 2015 Apr 15;209(1-2):1-42.
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