Physical property A yellowor orange crystalline granule

Pharmacological action

Diminazene diaceturate is a trypanocidal andbabesiacidal drug. It is active against a large number of tsetsetransmitted trypanosomes causing Nagana including T.brucei, T.vivaxand T.congolense and can also be used for treatment of Surra causedby T.evansi. Diminazene diaceturate is furthermoreeffective against most important species of Babesia causing Redwater fever including B.bigemina, B.bovis, B.motasi, and B.ovis.Although administration of diminazene diaceturateleads to a rapid clinical cure, it does generally not completelyeliminate Babesia spp.; it therefore does not interact with normaldevelopment of immunity. Resistance has been recorded, but of thecurative drugs diminazene diaceturate has had theleast problems.

Antipyrine has analgesic and antipyretic actions. Itminimizes the fever and listlessness related to infection withtrypanosoma and /or babesia spp.. It furthermore acts as astabilizer after preparing the solution.

Therapeutic indications

Diminazen is indicated for the curative treatment ofdiseases caused by trypanosomes (e.g.Nagana and Surra) and fortreatment of infections caused by Babesia species (Red waterfever). Given at high doses Diminazen can be used prophylactic inBabesia infected areas. Given at therapeutic dosages Diminazen canbe given prophylactically in animals temporarily exposed totrypanosome-challenge (e.g.enroute).

Administration Dosage

The contents of sachet of 2.36 g should be dissolved in 15ml water. Following reconstitution Diminazen should be injectedintramuscularly. The general dosage is 3.5 mg diminazenediaceturate per kg bodyweight. This corresponds to 1 mlreconstituted solution per 20 kg bodyweight.

Side-effects

In ruminants Diminazen has a higher therapeutic index thanother trypanocides/babesiacides, so adverse effects are rarely seenat therapeutic dosages. Overdosing may cause symptoms related toCNS toxicity (ataxia, spastic paralysis, convulsions). Diminazenmay aggravate pre-existing liver disease. Following intramuscularinjection a transient irritation at the injection site mayoccur.

Precautions

1.The normal dosage is 3.5 mg of diminazene diaceturateper kg of body weight in a single injection. In case of infectionsdue to Trypanosoma brucei, the dosage has to be doubled. For veryresistant agents, the dose may be increased up to 8 mg/ kg bodyweight. However, do not exceed a total dose of 4 g peranimal.

2.If more than 20 ml is injected, it isrecommended to inject into two separate sites.

3.Do not exceed the recommended dosage and donot use for other species.

4.Do not use intravenous route.

Withdrawal period Meat: 35days, milk: 2 days.

Standard  2.36g/sachet ;23.6g/sachet

packing 2.36g/sachet ;23.6g/sachet

Storage Store the sachets in a dry place,below 30 °C.

The reconstituted solution may be stored two weeks in afridge and protected from light.

Shelf-life threeyears

Veterinary medicineDiminazene diaceturate and antipyrine granule