The Trypanocidal Activity of Nucleocidin against Trypanosoma vivax in West African Zebu Cattle

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Abstract
Three white Fulani zebu bulls were experimentally infected by the bites of wild-caught Glossina morsitans. They all developed Trypanosoma vivax infections in 8, 10 and 10 days respectively. Intramuscular injection of the antibiotic, nucleocidin, at a dose rate of 0.025 mg/kg body weight, cleared the trypanosomes from the peripheral blood for 33, 24 and 18 days respectively, at which times T. vivax was again observed in blood films. In 2 animals, T. congolense was also found during the course of the relapse infections, indicating that nucleocidin, at the dose employed, is not curative for infections in cattle due to these organisms. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (S.G.P.T.) values rose sharply during the initial period of infection, and fell to pre-infection levels after treatment. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (S.G.O.T.) values showed no marked variation during infection. Neither value rose again during the relapse infections. The source of the increased S.G.P.T. is being investigated.

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