Therapeutic efficacy of isometamidium hydrochloride and diminazene diaceturate in treatment of trypanosomiasis in horses

Twelve equines found positive for Trypanosoma evansi in Giemsa-stained thin blood smears (GSTBS) were divided in two groups (n=6) each. Group-I was treated with single injection of isometamidium hydrochloride @ 0.5mg/kg b.wt I/M and Group-II treated with single injection of diminazene diaceturate@ 5mg/kg b.wt I/M. Giemsa-stained thin blood smears examination could detect T. evansi in 2 horses treated with diminazene diaceturate on 3rd day of treatment while all six horses of isometamidium hydrochloride treated group were found negative for T. evansi. Horses’ positive for T. evansi on 3rd day were found negative after another dose of diminazene diaceturate. Increase in the value of Hb and TEC was observed on 7th day post treatment in isometamidium hydrochloride than diminazene diaceturate. Decrease in the value of TPP was observed on 7th day post treatment in isometamidium hydrochloride treated equines as compared to diminazene diaceturate. Aspartate amino transferase, ALP and GGT also showed significant decrease in isometamidium hydrochloride treated equines as compared to diminazene diaceturate on 3rd and 7th day post treatment. It can be concluded that isometamidium hydrochloride has higher therapeutic efficacy in clearing the Trypanosoma as compared to diminazene diaceturate.