Chemoprophylaxis (Imidocarb) against Babesia bigemina and Babesia argentina infections.
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abstract
The chemoprophylactic effects of imidocarb (3,3' bis (2 imidazolin 2 yl) carbanilide dihydrochloride) against bovine babesiasis were evaluated in 29 calves. The compound had prophylactic and therapeutic properties in calves artificially and naturally infected with B. bigemina and B. argentina of Colombian (South American) origin. Administered intramuscularly at the dose level of 2 mg./kg., imidocarb suppressed the development of acute babesiasis in calves treated 46 days previously and later exposed to a lethal dose of Babesia infected blood. Imidocarb failed to protect against Anaplasma marginale infection. Calves treated intravenously with imidocarb at dose level of 2 mg./kg. and challenge inoculated 20 days later with a leth!l dose o& Babesia infected blood were protected. For 90 days after challenge, none of the calves had Babesia parasitemia, as determined by examination of stained blood films and by subinoculation of blood into susceptible splenectomized calves. Calves intravenously treated 21 days previously with 3 mg. of imidocarb per kilogram resisted tick borne challenge of Boophilus microplus. This resistance was evidenced for 15 weeks of field exposure by negative results of examinations of stained blood films and death of nontreated calves from acute babesiasis. All calves treated with imidocarb and subsequently exposed to blood or tick borne Babesia responded with an increase of cf antibodies.
