Antitheilerial activity of BW720C (buparvaquone): a comparison with parvaquone.

A series of hydroxynaphthoquinones, all derivatives of the antitheilerial hydroxynaphthoquinone parvaquone (993C, Clexon; Wellcome) was tested for antitheilerial activity against Theileria parva (Muguga) in vitro. BW720C (buparvaquone) was 20 times more active than parvaquone. When tested in vivo BW720C cured all 13 cattle infected with T parva and all six infected with T annulata treated at a dose rate of 2.5 mg (kg bodyweight)-1 while parvaquone at 20 mg kg-1 cured nine of 10 cattle. All 16 untreated control cattle died of theileriosis.