Effect of ivermectin on Trypanosoma brucei brucei in experimentally infected mice

Background & objectives: Human and livestock African trypanosomiasis, otherwise known as sleeping sickness,is a neglected tropical disease of public health importance in west and central Africa. In view of the adverse sideeffects of the antitrypanosomal drugs, the relatively few side effects observed in ivermectin use, and becauseboth onchocerciasis and typanosomiasis occur in overlapping foci in Africa, it would be desirable if the ivermectinthat has been used successfully on onchocerciasis management could also be used in the control and treatmentof trypanosomiasis.Method: In this study, prophylactic and therapeutic effects of ivermectin (Mectizan) were investigated in albinomice infected with a Nigerian strain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei.Results: A 300 μg/ml/kg dose had the most effective impact because it showed the highest mean survival time of12 days in both the treatment and prophylactic groups of mice. This dose also enhanced the defence capacity ofthe treated groups. It also had positive influence on the packed cell volume (PCV) and the state of anaemia inthe trypanosome infected mice, hence, improving their survivability.Interpretation & conclusions: Our report indicates that using the 300 μg/ml/kg dose of ivermectin increases themean survival period from 5 to 12 days. This suggests that ivermectin could be possibly used in the treatment oftrypanosomiasis. Further studies will be required to show whether proper treatment may entail a single dose, asused in this study; an increased number of doses, or combinations with other drugs.