Treatment for protozoans
Entamoeba histolytica (Protozoa: Rhizopoda)
Intestinal Infection: Usually nitroimidazole derivatives are used because they are highly effective against the trophozoite form of the amoeba. Since they have little effect on amoeba cysts, usually this treatment is followed by an agent (such as paromomycin or diloxanide furoate) that acts on the organism in the lumen.
Intestinal Infection: Usually nitroimidazole derivatives are used because they are highly effective against the trophozoite form of the amoeba. Since they have little effect on amoeba cysts, usually this treatment is followed by an agent (such as paromomycin or diloxanide furoate) that acts on the organism in the lumen.
Giardia duodenalis (Protozoa: Diplomonadida)
In chronic giardiasis the symptoms are recurrent and malabsorption and debilitation may occur.
In chronic giardiasis the symptoms are recurrent and malabsorption and debilitation may occur.
Trypanosoma cruzi (Protozoa: Kinetoplastida)
Early infections are treatable with the medication benznidazole or nifurtimox.
Early infections are treatable with the medication benznidazole or nifurtimox.
Isospora spp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa)
Treatment with trypsin and sodium taurocholate.
Treatment with trypsin and sodium taurocholate.
Balantidium coli (Protozoa: Ciliophora)
Treatment is effective at reducing morbidity.
Treatment is effective at reducing morbidity.
Babesia spp. (Protozoa: Piroplasmida)
Most cases of babesiosis resolve without any specific treatment. For ill patients, treatment is usually a two-drug regimen, quinine and clindamycin. As these drugs are often poorly tolerated, recent evidence suggests a regimen of atovaquone and azithromycin can be equally effective. In life-threatening cases, exchange transfusion is performed. In this procedure, the infected red blood cells are removed and replaced with uninfected ones. Imizol is a drug used for treated of Babesiosis in dogs.
Most cases of babesiosis resolve without any specific treatment. For ill patients, treatment is usually a two-drug regimen, quinine and clindamycin. As these drugs are often poorly tolerated, recent evidence suggests a regimen of atovaquone and azithromycin can be equally effective. In life-threatening cases, exchange transfusion is performed. In this procedure, the infected red blood cells are removed and replaced with uninfected ones. Imizol is a drug used for treated of Babesiosis in dogs.
Trypanosoma brucei (Protozoa: Kinetoplastida)
Historically, arsenical drugs have been used despite major toxicity problems. Melarsoprol and trypursamide are used to treat chronic infections (involving CNS signs). Other drugs have proven more effective against systemic infections (suramin, pentamidine) and neurological infections (berenil, eflornithine, difluoromethylornithine). Prevention involves avoiding being bitten by tsetse flies, but this can be difficult as they are persistent daytime feeders and can bite through thin clothing. Control measures based on vector eradication (using insecticidal sprays, fly traps, or clearing vegetation) and managing wild game reservoirs of infection (by fencing, culling or creating wildlife corridors) have only proven partially effective. Some recent success has been recorded in breeding trypanotolerant domestic livestock (e.g. Ndama cattle).
Historically, arsenical drugs have been used despite major toxicity problems. Melarsoprol and trypursamide are used to treat chronic infections (involving CNS signs). Other drugs have proven more effective against systemic infections (suramin, pentamidine) and neurological infections (berenil, eflornithine, difluoromethylornithine). Prevention involves avoiding being bitten by tsetse flies, but this can be difficult as they are persistent daytime feeders and can bite through thin clothing. Control measures based on vector eradication (using insecticidal sprays, fly traps, or clearing vegetation) and managing wild game reservoirs of infection (by fencing, culling or creating wildlife corridors) have only proven partially effective. Some recent success has been recorded in breeding trypanotolerant domestic livestock (e.g. Ndama cattle).
Eimeria spp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa)
Disease progression is usually so rapid that any therapeutic (curative) treatment may simply be too late. For this reason, continuous in-food or in-water medication is often used for prophylactic (preventative) treatment in many intensive animal industries. A wide range of drugs are available, including those with coccidio-static (reversible suppressive) activity or coccidio-cidal (irreversible lethal) activity. The main drug groups include sulfonamides (sulfanilamide, trimethoprim, ethopabate), pyridinoles (clopidol, decoquinate), nitrobenzamides (zoalene), organic arsenicals (roxarsone), nitrofurans (furazolidone, amprolium), quinazolinones (halofuginone), polyether ionophorous antibiotics (monensin, laslocid, salinomycin, narasin), asymmetric (diclazuril) and symmetric (toltrazuril) triazines.
Disease progression is usually so rapid that any therapeutic (curative) treatment may simply be too late. For this reason, continuous in-food or in-water medication is often used for prophylactic (preventative) treatment in many intensive animal industries. A wide range of drugs are available, including those with coccidio-static (reversible suppressive) activity or coccidio-cidal (irreversible lethal) activity. The main drug groups include sulfonamides (sulfanilamide, trimethoprim, ethopabate), pyridinoles (clopidol, decoquinate), nitrobenzamides (zoalene), organic arsenicals (roxarsone), nitrofurans (furazolidone, amprolium), quinazolinones (halofuginone), polyether ionophorous antibiotics (monensin, laslocid, salinomycin, narasin), asymmetric (diclazuril) and symmetric (toltrazuril) triazines.
Cryptosporidium spp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa)
There is currently no effective chemotherapeutic treatment for cryptosporidiosis, although variable success has been reported using paromomycin and nitazoxanide.
There is currently no effective chemotherapeutic treatment for cryptosporidiosis, although variable success has been reported using paromomycin and nitazoxanide.
Toxoplasma gondii (Protozoa: Apicomplexa)
Chemotherapy is successful when pyrimethamine and sulphonamides are given together as they act synergistically.
Chemotherapy is successful when pyrimethamine and sulphonamides are given together as they act synergistically.
Plasmodium spp. (Protozoa: Haemosporidia)
A variety of drugs have been developed for therapeutic (treatment) and prophylactic (preventive) use.
A variety of drugs have been developed for therapeutic (treatment) and prophylactic (preventive) use.
Thelohania spp. (Protozoa:Microspora)
No drug treatments have proven totally effective, but some successes have been reported when treating human infections with albendazole (ocular, intestinal and disseminated infections), metronidazole (intestinal infections) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (disseminated infections).
No drug treatments have proven totally effective, but some successes have been reported when treating human infections with albendazole (ocular, intestinal and disseminated infections), metronidazole (intestinal infections) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (disseminated infections).
Ichthyophthirius multifilis (Protozoa: Ciliophora)
Aquarium fish have been successfully treated with dilute concentrations of formaldehyde, malachite green or methylene blue.
Aquarium fish have been successfully treated with dilute concentrations of formaldehyde, malachite green or methylene blue.