Physical property A yellow or orange crystalline granule
Pharmacological action
Diminazene diaceturate is a trypanocidal and babesiacidal drug. It is active against a large number of tsetse transmitted trypanosomes causing Nagana including T.brucei, T.vivax and T.congolense and can also be used for treatment of Surra caused by T.evansi. Diminazene diaceturate is furthermore effective against most important species of Babesia causing Red water fever including B.bigemina, B.bovis, B.motasi, and B.ovis. Although administration of diminazene diaceturate leads to a rapid clinical cure, it does generally not completely eliminate Babesia spp.; it therefore does not interact with normal development of immunity. Resistance has been recorded, but of the curative drugs diminazene diaceturate has had the least problems.
Antipyrine has analgesic and antipyretic actions. It minimizes the fever and listlessness related to infection with trypanosoma and /or babesia spp.. It furthermore acts as a stabilizer after preparing the solution.
Therapeutic indications
Diminazen is indicated for the curative treatment of diseases caused by trypanosomes (e.g.Nagana and Surra) and for treatment of infections caused by Babesia species (Red water fever). Given at high doses Diminazen can be used prophylactic in Babesia infected areas. Given at therapeutic dosages Diminazen can be given prophylactically in animals temporarily exposed to trypanosome-challenge (e.g.enroute).
Administration Dosage
The contents of sachet of 2.36 g should be dissolved in 15 ml water. Following reconstitution Diminazen should be injected intramuscularly. The general dosage is 3.5 mg diminazene diaceturate per kg bodyweight. This corresponds to 1 ml reconstituted solution per 20 kg bodyweight.
Side-effects
In ruminants Diminazen has a higher therapeutic index than other trypanocides/babesiacides, so adverse effects are rarely seen at therapeutic dosages. Overdosing may cause symptoms related to CNS toxicity (ataxia, spastic paralysis, convulsions). Diminazen may aggravate pre-existing liver disease. Following intramuscular injection a transient irritation at the injection site may occur.
Precautions
1.The normal dosage is 3.5 mg of diminazene diaceturate per kg of body weight in a single injection. In case of infections due to Trypanosoma brucei, the dosage has to be doubled. For very resistant agents, the dose may be increased up to 8 mg/ kg body weight. However, do not exceed a total dose of 4 g per animal.
2.If more than 20 ml is injected, it is recommended to inject into two separate sites.
3.Do not exceed the recommended dosage and do not use for other species.
4.Do not use intravenous route.
Withdrawal period Meat: 35 days, 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 a fridge and protected from light.
Shelf-life three years