Performance and physiological observations of West African Dwarf goats challenged with <i>Trypanosoma evansi</i> and treated with Artemether-Lumefantrine

Abstract

Therapeutic trial of Artemether-Lumefantrine, a non trypanocide was investigated in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats challenged with 10⁶ trypanosomes/ml intravenously. Twelve male WAD goats with initial average weight of 7kg were used to determine the antitrypanosomal potentials of Artemether. They were randomly divided into 3 groups of 4 animals each in a Completely Randomized Design. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were Artemether treatment group, Diminazene treatment group and untreated group respectively. The animals were acclimatized for 14 days. ‘Parameters evaluated were; parasitaemia, performance and physiology of the goats inoculated with T. evansi. At prepatency, groups 1 and 2 goats were treated with Artemether (20mg)-Lumefantrine (120mg) (140mg/5-14kg orally for 3 days) and Diminazene diaceturate (7mg/kg i.m once) respectively while group 3 were untreated. Data were subjected to one way ANOVA and Duncan using SPSS. Line graphs were used to illustrate variations. Results revealed prepatency of 21 to 24 days. Parasitaemia were mostly undetected. Parameters were similar (P>0.05) except feed intake, where Artemether group 1(P<0.05) had the highest value (199g/day). However, weights, survival of Artemether treated group 1 were highest and remained constant across the weeks/days while Diminazene group 2 and Untreated Control group 3 declined. Group 3 had the highest rectal temperature of 38°C at week 2; consequently other groups also attained same temperature at week 4. These observations strongly support the use of Artemether to combat ‘Surra’.