posted                      

I'm just breaking this up to make it easier for us neuro-lymies to read. I hope you don't mind.

quote:

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Originally posted by babesman:


Chemotherapy of Babesiosis in Animals

The elimination of babesias (Table 1) in cattle or horses may play an important role for those animals which have a low-grade infection premunition.

In these cases it must be guaranteed that carrier animals are free from infection before being imported into Babesia-free areas.

However, when drugs are used therapeutically in endemic regions the aim is to promote clinical recovery only, and to allow some parasites to survive, reestablishing premunition.

Thus, instead of the chemoimmunization programs (Premunization and Use of Antibabesial Drugs) that are used in districts with enzootic stability or instability, in countries where babesias are rare the so-called diagnosis-treatment method is employed.

Sterilization of infection, i.e., complete elimination of parasites, is usually not achieved with small Babesia spp. possibly due to adherence of parasites to capillary walls and consequent obstruction of blood flow.

There are several drugs in use, all of which are ``oldtimers'' and are more or less afflicted with adverse effects involving long withdrawal periods for meat and other edible tissues.

Drugs commonly used in treating acute ovine or porcine babesiosis are quinuronium sulfate, imidocarb, and diminazene, which have sufficient efficacy against clinical attacks.

Infections with Babesia spp. in sheep, goat, and swine must be treated with somewhat higher doses than those normally recommended in cattle.

Repeated administration of drugs may be necessary to cure B. ovis infections (for details regarding activity and toxicity of antibabesial drugs see Table 1, Trypanocidal Drugs, Animals; for pharmacokinetics of diminazene diaceturate and ethidium bromide see Trypanocidal Drugs, Animals/Pharmacokinetics of Trypanocides and Chemical Residues in Edible Tissues and Milk).

The effect of an antibabesial drug may vary and can be modified by the severity of the disease, the dosage used, the timing of treatment in the course of infection, and the length of time that the drug is present to affect the parasite.

As a rule, large Babesia spp. are distinctly more susceptible to chemotherapeutic agents than are the small ones. In general, the latter respond variably to antibabesial drugs.

There may be differences in relation and metabolism between small and large Babesia spp., and as a result the target and biochemical mode of action of drugs differ.

Recovery of ill animals can be achieved if specific and effective treatment is given prior to the onset of severe anemia or disorders of the nervous system, i.e., in the early course of infection.

Prognosis is poor for those animals already showing cerebral signs; these are caused by clumps of parasitized erythrocytes blocking capillary blood vessels of cerebral cortex.

In severe cases the aim of supportive treatment (e.g. blood transfusion, fluid therapy) is to reduce the occurrence of shock and disturbances of the blood clotting mechanisms and calcium balance.

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"As a rule, large Babesia spp. are distinctly more susceptible to chemotherapeutic agents than are the small ones."

There's no certainty which babesi specifically are "large" or "small" at present but note the name for the human ones - _microti_.

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This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing it.!



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Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner.

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