Comparison of long-acting oxytetracycline and buparvaquone in treatment of bovine theileriosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of long-acting oxytetracycline alone and in combination nation with buparvaquone in treatment of bovine theileriosis due to Theileria annulata. For this purpose blood samples were collected from marginal ear and jugular vains of 30 naturally infected and 10 clinically healthy cattle as control group. Confirmation of diagnosis of the infected animals was carried out through the observation of intra-erythrocytic forms of Theileria annulata in blood smears. Hematological parameters of hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured by standard techniques. Infected animals were divided in to 2 subgroups based on the RBC parasitemia rate. Group 1 (1-5% of RBCs infected) comprised of 15 infected animals which received one intramuscular injection of long – acting oxytetracycline with dosage 20 mg/kg. Group 2 (>5% parasitemia rate) comprised 15 infected animals was received one intramuscular injection of buparvaquone with dosage 2.5 mg/kg and long – acting oxytetracycline with dosage 20 mg/ kg Control group did not receive any medication. The infected cows were assessed for two weeks after drug administration. There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 except of the recovery rate that was insignificantly higher in group 2 than in group 1. In conclusion, long –acting oxytetracycline has a profitable application in treatment of bovine theileriosis due to Theileria annulata in cases in which the infection rate of RBCs are low.