Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treatment options and outcomes for Hepatozoon americanum infection
By Allen, Kelly E et al.·Published in Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine·2010·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Treatment of Hepatozoon americanum infection: review of the literature and experimental evaluation of efficacy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with American canine hepatozoonosis (ACH), a serious infection caused by a parasite, was treated with a new approach using a drug called ponazuril for four weeks. While this treatment helped reduce the dog's symptoms and improve its quality of life, it did not completely eliminate the parasite. The study suggests that using ponazuril along with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can help manage the disease, but long-term treatment with another medication called decoquinate is still necessary for the best results.
People also search for: dog hepatozoonosis treatment · ponazuril for dogs · ACH symptoms in dogs
Abstract
There is no labeled treatment for dogs with American canine hepatozoonosis (ACH), but the drug therapies discussed in this article, although not rapidly curative, may be successful in alleviating acute clinical signs, prolonging life, reducing the number of clinical relapses, and enhancing quality of life. This article also describes a pilot trial conducted to assess the efficacy of a novel treatment approach with ponazuril as a stand-alone parasiticide administered for 4 weeks without follow-up decoquinate treatment. Although extended ponazuril treatment in combination with NSAID administration did ameliorate acute clinical signs associated with ACH, the parasite was not completely cleared with this treatment protocol alone. Long-term decoquinate therapy remains a critical component of successful treatment of ACH.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21308664/