Treatment Efficacy of Imidocarb Dipropionate in Saanen Goats Experimentally Infected with Babesia aktasi

Abstract

Babesia aktasi is a recently discovered species that is highly prevalent in native goats in T & uuml;rkiye's Mediterranean region. Although it does not induce clinical disease in local breeds, it causes severe illness in Saanen goats, manifesting with high fever, anemia, hemoglobinuria, and jaundice. Imidocarb dipropionate (IMDP) has been reported to be therapeutically effective against Babesia species. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of IMDP and its ability to eliminate the parasite in experimentally infected Saanen goats. Twelve goats were assigned to treatment and control groups (n = 5 per group) and infected using fresh blood from two splenectomized donors. All goats developed clinical babesiosis, with parasitemia ranging from 3.8% to 22. Semi-nested PCR specific to B. aktasi was performed for 30 days post-treatment. Following treatment with IMDP (1.2 mg/kg), clinical signs resolved by the third and fourth days, and parasitemia became microscopically undetectable. However, one goat in the treatment group and four goats in the control group died shortly after infection. Hematological parameters (HCT, RBC, HB) decreased during infection but normalized in surviving animals. Notably, B. aktasi DNA remained detectable by PCR up to 30 days after treatment. These findings indicated that IMDP resolved clinical signs and eliminated microscopically detectable parasitemia; however, it may not completely eliminate the parasite at the molecular level in B. aktasi infections. The results of this study provide valuable information for optimizing therapeutic approaches and improving our understanding of treatment responses in new species B. aktasi.