Transient efficacy of buparvaquone against Theileria haneyi in chronically infected horses

Theileria haneyi is one of the three known causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. While imidocarb is generally effective in the clearance of the highly pathogenic Theileria equi, it is ineffective in the treatment of T. haneyi. Moreover, co-infection with T. haneyi has been shown to impede the successful treatment of T. equi. Furthermore, tulathromycin and diclazuril have demonstrated inefficacy in eradicating T. haneyi. The absence of an effective therapeutic agent against this parasite represents a significant obstacle in managing equine piroplasmosis.

To address this issue, we evaluated the efficacy of buparvaquone in the treatment of T. haneyi in chronically infected horses.

Our findings showed that treatment of horses with the recommended dose of 2.5 mg/kg of buparvaquone led to a rapid abatement of T. haneyi levels, to a level where the parasites were not detectable by nested PCR. Following treatment, the horses remained PCR negative for a minimum of seven weeks until recrudescence occurred. Subsequent re-administration of buparvaquone at an increased dosage of 6 mg/kg upon recrudescence failed to exert a theilericidal effect on T. haneyi. Throughout the treatment regimen, the hematological parameters of the horses and most components of the chemistry panel remained within the normal range, except for blood urea nitrogen levels, which fell below the normal range in certain instances.

BPQ at 2.5 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg had a robust theilericidal effect but was ineffective in the clearance of the T. haneyi infection in persistently infected animals.