Combination therapy of trypanosomiasis using diminazene and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

The susceptibility of established Trypanosoma brucei (8/18 strain) infection in mice and rabbits to low doses of diminazene (Berenil) in combination therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been evaluated using piroxicam (Feldene) and pirprofen (Rengasil) as examples of the NSAID. The results show that low doses of diminazene combined with piroxicam cured experimentally infected mice and rabbits with T. brucei. On the other hand, diminazene in combination with pirprofen did not offer any activity against the course of the infection. Mice treated with low doses of diminazene combined with pirprofen did not show reduced parasitemia and died within 3-4 days post infection. The study shows that low doses of diminazene at rates of 2 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg, when combined with piroxicam at a dosage rate of 0.6 mg/kg, can effect permanent cure in experimentally infected mice and rabbits with T. brucei.