Clinical Therapeutic Efficacy of Imidocarb Dipropionate and Diminazene Aceturate against Equine Piroplasmosis in Tehsil Jhang

Ghulam Mustafa , Abdul Shakoor, Amar Nasir, Usman Waheed, Rafaqat Ali
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang (sub campus) University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore

Equines (horses, mules and donkeys) are raised mainly for draught and sports purpose. As draught animals, equines are of vital importance for daily earning of poor people. These animals are useful in agriculture, carriage and transportation of people. In Pakistan, horses are considered as companion animals. They are raised as draught, racing and riding animals. Role of equines as working animals has always been central in rural and urban areas of Pakistan. More than 95% of all mules and donkeys; and 60% of all horses are found in developing countries. These are playing a key role in the economy of developing countries. Total equine population in Pakistan is 5.7 million. Horses are 0.4 million mules are 0.2 million and donkeys are 5.1 million.

Equine piroplasmosis is a tick borne disease of horses, mules, donkeys and zebra caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. This disease causes fever, depression, anemia, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, weakness, inappetence and sometimes colic, which can be lethal. The present study was conducted to check the efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate and diminazine aceturate against equine piroplasmosis and its impact on hematolgy in tehsil jhang, Pakistan from May 2017 to September 2017. This study was conducted on 285 equines (horses n=95, donkeys n=95, mules n= 95).Out of these 120 equines (horses n =44, donkeys n=35 mules n=41) were positive for equine piroplasmosis through thin blood smear examination.

**Pyriform with pair formation of Babesia caballi inside the rbcs**

**Pyriform bodies of Theileria equi inside the rbcs**

The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in horses was 46.31% (Theileria equi=23/95;23.15%, Babesia caballi=12/95;14.74%, mixed infection=9/95;9.47%). The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in donkeys was 36.84% (Theileria equi=13/95;13.68% Babesia caballi=18/95=18.94%, mixed infection= 4/95; 4.2%).The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in mules was 43.15% (Theileria equi=21/95; 22.10%, Babesia caballi=13/95;13.68%, mixed infection=7/95;7.37%).The prevalence of equine piroplamosis was more in age group 1(0 to 5 years) in horses followed by age group (> 10 years) and age group(5 to 10 years). In horses and donkeys the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis was more in male animals. In mules equine piroplasmosis was more prevalent in female animals. The highest prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in equines was in June (61.11%) followed by July, August, May, September which was 52.63%, 50.0%, 38.46% and 31.25% respectively. The highest prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in equines was in dirtyard floor (69.70%) followed by paved and cemented that was 28.13% and 17.24%, respectively. Most clinical signs observed in equine piroplasmosis is in equines was anorexia followed by fever, weight loss, pale mucus membranes, jaundice. The highest prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in horses was in rural area 58.82% followed by periurban and urban area. The prevalence in periurban and urban area was 51.52% and 17.86%, respectively. The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in equines infested with tick was more than than non-infested horses. The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis with tick infested in horses was 61.54%.while in non-infested horses the prevalence was 35.71%. The positive animals were divided in to four groups.

Group 1 was consisted of 34 horses, group 2 was consisted of 25 donkeys, group 3 consisted of 31 mules, while group 4 consisted of control animals (n=10) from each group. Group 1 was treated with Imizole^® (imidocarb dipropionate) at a dose rate of 2.4 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly, Group 2 was treated with Imipro^® (imidocarb dipropionate) at a dose rate of 2.4 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly. While group 3 was treated with Idimin^® (diminazine aceturate) at a dose rate of 3.5mg/kg body weight intramuscularly. Group 4 was served as a control group. The efficacy of Imizole^® imidocarb dipropionate was 88.24%, the efficacy of Imipro^® imidocarb dipropionate was 80%, while efficacy of Idimin^® (diminazine aceturate) was 70.97%. There was a remarkable increase in TLC, DLC values and decrease in Hb and Pcv values in positive animals. After administering of imidocarb dipropionate and diminazine aceturate in disease animals TLC, DLC values were decreased and Hb and Pcv were increased significantly. The present study provides information to stakeholder about the prevalence and best therapeutic regimen against Equine’s Piroplasmosis in Tehsil Jhang.