Ma Rui, Yue Chanjuan, Gu Jiang, Wu Wei, Hou Rong, Huang Wenjun, Li Bi, Xue Fei, Huang Chong, Bi Wenlei, Liu Jiabin, Yu Xiang, Li Zusheng, Yang Wanjing, Fu Mingxia, Yang Hong, Qi Dunwu
Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China.
Administration of Daxiangling Nature Reserve, Yaan, 625000, Sichuan, China.
Parasit Vectors. 2024 Dec 23;17(1):531. doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06615-9.
Babesia is a tick-borne protozoan blood parasite that can cause hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, lethargy and splenomegaly in giant pandas.
We evaluated the efficacy and safety profile of a therapeutic regimen combining atovaquone and zithromycin in the context of babesiosis in giant pandas that have been naturally infected. The examined pandas underwent clinical and laboratory analyses, including hematology, biochemistry and thyroid hormone profiles. Upon diagnosis, the giant pandas were administered a compounded treatment consisting of atovaquone oral suspension (15 mg/kg, PO, q8 h), azithromycin tablets (10 mg/kg, PO, q24 h) and Enteral Nutritional Suspension (TPF) as a fat-rich supplement (0.5 ml/kg, PO, q8 h) for a 10-day period.
The combination treatment increased the red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels and hematocrit in the pandas within a short period, while also reducing parasite levels below the PCR detection threshold.
Our study suggested that atovaquone and azithromycin combination therapy is highly effective for emergency treatment of Babesia sp. infection in giant pandas.
巴贝斯虫是一种通过蜱传播的原生动物血液寄生虫，可导致大熊猫出现溶血性贫血、血小板减少、嗜睡和脾肿大。
我们评估了阿托伐醌和阿奇霉素联合治疗方案在自然感染巴贝斯虫病的大熊猫中的疗效和安全性。对受试大熊猫进行了临床和实验室分析，包括血液学、生物化学和甲状腺激素水平检测。确诊后，给大熊猫服用复合治疗药物，包括阿托伐醌口服混悬液（15毫克/千克，口服，每8小时一次）、阿奇霉素片（10毫克/千克，口服，每24小时一次）和肠内营养混悬液（TPF）作为富含脂肪的补充剂（0.5毫升/千克，口服，每8小时一次），持续10天。
联合治疗在短时间内提高了大熊猫的红细胞计数、血红蛋白水平和血细胞比容，同时还将寄生虫水平降低到PCR检测阈值以下。
我们的研究表明，阿托伐醌和阿奇霉素联合疗法对大熊猫巴贝斯虫感染的紧急治疗非常有效。
