Therapeutic Efficacy Of Cotecxin alone and Its Combination with Diminazene aceturate (Berenil) in the Treatment of Experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infection of Rats

The therapeutic efficacy of Cotecxin (Dihydroartemisinin) alone and its combination with diminazene aceturate (Berenil) was studied in rats infected with Federe strain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Fifty healthy adult albino rats of both sexes weighing between 100-180g used were divided into five groups (A-E) of 10 rats each. Rats in groups A-D were each infected with T.b. brucei (1x10trypanosomes). Rats in groups A were treated with 7.0mg/Kg of diminazene aceturate (Berenil) as a single dose, group B with 1.0mg/Kg of Cotecxin and group C with a combination of diminazene aceturate (3.5mg/Kg) and Cotecxin (1.0mg/Kg). Rats in group D remained untreated while group E animals served as the uninfected and untreated control. The pre-patent periods in groups A, B, C and D were 3.5 ± 0.9, 3.1 ± 0.9, 3.2 ± 0.6 and 3.5 ± 0.9 days respectively. There was no significant (P> 0.05) difference in pre-patent periods among the infected groups. The infected rats were treated on day 6 post-infection (Pi). Survival time was 26.6 ± 0.5 and 15.8 ± 1.6 days in groups B and D respectively and shorter (P < 0.05) in group D. Cotecxin treatment alone suppressed level of parasitaemia, prolonged survival time but could not completely clear the parasites from the blood. Complete clearance of the parasites was achieved in groups A and C rats as there was no relapse. In conclusion, Cotecxin alone was not effective but its combination with diminazene aceturate (Berenil) was effective in Trypanosoma brucei brucei clearance from the blood.