Elimination of Theileria buffeli infections from cattle by concurrent treatment with buparvaquone and primaquine phosphate.

Attempts (some successful) were made to eliminate Theileria buffeli infections from 23 naturally or experimentally infected, splenectomised calves. The anti-theilerial hydroxynaphthoquinone derivative buparvaquone was used either alone or in combination with primaquine phosphate. After treatment the calves were monitored for infection for up to 26 weeks. Blood films were examined for piroplasms and serum antibody levels were measured using an immunofluorescence technique. Buparvaquone alone failed to eliminate infections. Infections were eliminated from 11 of 16 calves treated twice with buparvaquone and three or six times with primaquine phosphate. Theilerial parasites were not subsequently seen in these 11 calves nor were antibodies detected beyond the eighth week after treatment.