The effect of dexamethasone and promethazine in combination with buparvaquone in the management of East Coast fever

Abstract

<span>The effects of dexamethasone and promethazine on the amelioration of pulmonary oedema in East Coast fever were investigated. The clinical effects of these drugs were further investigated when used in conjunction with the antitheilerial drug, buparvaquone. In the first experiment, 15 crossbred (Friesian x Zebu) steers were divided into four groups. With the exception of the animals in group IV, that served as a control group all the others were infected with <em>Theileria parva</em> sporozoites. On the second day of the febrile reaction, the steers in groups I and II were treated with dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg) and promethazine (1 mg/kg), respectively. Group III steers served as the infected untreated controls. On the fifth day of the febrile reaction the animals in groups I, II and III were infused intravenously with tattoo ink suspension and 1 h later sacrificed for post-mortem examination and tissue sampling. The clinical picture indicated that both drugs significantly mitigated dyspnoea and the post mortem examination revealed a significant reduction in morphological changes. Tattoo ink particle count reflected a significant (<em>P</em> < 0.01) reduction in vascular leakage in the treated animals, with promethazine being significantly (<em>P</em> < 0.05) more effective than dexamethasone in this respect. In the second experiment, 18 steers were infected with <em>T. parva</em> sporozoites, and then were randomly allotted into three groups each of which contained six animals. After the onset of ECF clinical signs, the animals in the first two groups were treated with buparvaquone in combination with either dexamethasone (group I) or promethazine (group II), and the third group was treated with buparvaquone alone. The results indicated that all the animals in groups I, II and III recovered well and no significant differences were observed in clinical disposition between the groups. Two months later, serum samples were collected from the refractory animals and demonstrated the presence of antibodies against <em>T. parva</em>. When the animals were subsequently artificially challenged with <em>T. parva</em>, none of them succumbed to clinical disease. The same <em>T. parva</em> stabilate stock was used in both experiments and it proved to be infective in a separate batch of steers.</span&gt

Tick infestations in extensively grazed cattle and efficacy trial of high-cis cypermethrin pour-on preparation for control of ticks in Mvomero district in Tanzania

“…Indeed, a study by Silayo et al [16] reported that in absence of acaricide use in cattle kept under extensive grazing system in Tanzania, calf mortalities due to TBDs in particular ECF can reach up to 80%. Calves are infected naturally with haemoparasites within four weeks of birth and in the absence of acaricide application, their health status decline severely and succumb to high mortality rates [17,42]. In addition, in absence of routine use of acaricides, increased morbidities, reduced production and reproduction performance associated with high mortalities in adult cattle has also been reported in different places [18-20,43].…”

Quantitative Analysis of Cytokine mRNA Expression and Protozoan DNA Load in Theileria parva-Infected Cattle

“…Finally, lung tissues are damaged by inflammatory infiltration, leading to a severe pulmonary edema [10]. These clinical signs of ECF appear during the schizont stage of the parasite and host death can occur before the emergence of piroplasm.…”

Exploring knowledge and management practices on ticks and tick-borne diseases among agro-pastoral communities in Southern Highlands, Tanzania

“…The main symptoms of ECF as described by Gwamaka et al . [ 21 ] include fever, swelling of lymph nodes, loss of appetite, excessive salivation and lacrimation, staring hair coat, dry muzzle, dropped ears, ruminal stasis, anorexia, and dyspnea. Anaplasmosis, the disease caused by A. marginale is characterized by progressive hemolytic anemia associated with fever, weight loss, abortion, and decreased milk production [ 21 ].…”

“…[ 21 ] include fever, swelling of lymph nodes, loss of appetite, excessive salivation and lacrimation, staring hair coat, dry muzzle, dropped ears, ruminal stasis, anorexia, and dyspnea. Anaplasmosis, the disease caused by A. marginale is characterized by progressive hemolytic anemia associated with fever, weight loss, abortion, and decreased milk production [ 21 ]. Heartwater (caused by E. ruminantium ) is characterized by sudden onset of fever, tachycardia, inappetence, hyperesthesia, high-stepping gait, twitching eyelids, chewing, and hemorrhagic diarrhea [ 21 ].…”

“…Anaplasmosis, the disease caused by A. marginale is characterized by progressive hemolytic anemia associated with fever, weight loss, abortion, and decreased milk production [ 21 ]. Heartwater (caused by E. ruminantium ) is characterized by sudden onset of fever, tachycardia, inappetence, hyperesthesia, high-stepping gait, twitching eyelids, chewing, and hemorrhagic diarrhea [ 21 ]. The observation in the current study agrees with other studies [ 12 , 14 ] who reported that pastoralists and agro-pastoralists have adequate diagnostic skills for animal diseases which conform to the veterinarian diagnosis criteria.…”