Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride in East Coast Fever (Theileria Parva Infection)

Abstract

Twenty-one cattle of European breeds were infected with T. parva by placing infected Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks on the ears. They were given one of the following treatments: - (A) soluble powder with a sucrose base, containing 25 g. oxytetracycline hydro-chloride [OTC] per pound, dissolved in water and given orally at 15 mg. OTC per kg. body wt. for 28 days following infection; (B) finely-milled corn meal containing 10 g. OTC per Ib. suspended in water and given at the same dosage; (C) intraperitoneal inj. of a solution of OTC in saline, at 10 mg. per kg. on alternate days during incubation and daily during the febrile period; (D) the same i/p inj., daily after the onset of fever; (E) oxytetracycline magnesium complex in propylene glycol, inj. i/v at 10 mg. OTC per kg. daily after the onset of fever. Treatment was maintained until parasites disappeared from the blood or until the animal died. Only one of the 9 cows given treatments A, B and C died. The incubation period was prolonged; it averaged 16.7 days. All were immune to challenge immediately after recovery. Treatments D and E appeared to be ineffective, since 7 of 8 died. There appeared to be a critical period during incubation, after which treatment was ineffective The method recommended to protect valuable stock during an outbreak was oral administration of the soluble powder.