Abstract
Homeopathic Crotalus horridus 200C was evaluated in 13 clinical cases of babesiosis in dogs, compared with another
20 clinical cases treated with diminazine. Babesiosis is an important tropical tick-borne
haemoprotozoan disease in dogs clinically manifested by anorexia, dehydration, temperature,
dullness/depression, diarrhoea/constipation, pale mucosa, hepatomegaly, vomiting/nausea,
splenomegaly, distended abdomen/ascites, yellow coloured urine, emaciation/weight
loss, and occular discharge. The diagnosis of babesiosis was based on cytological
evidence of Babesia gibsoni in freshly prepared blood smears. The dogs were treated with oral C. horridus 200C, 4 pills four times daily for 14 days (n=13) or diminazine aceturate 5 mg/kg single intramuscularly dose (n=20). All the dogs were administered 5% Dextrose normal saline at 60 ml/ kg intravenously
for 4 days.
Initial clinical scores were similar in both groups and showed similar progressive
improvement with the two treatments over 14 days. Parasitaemia also improved in both
groups, but haematological values showed no change.
No untoward reactions were observed. It appears that C. horridus is as effective in causing clinical recovery in moderate cases of canine babesiosis
caused by Babesia gibsoni as the standard drug diminazine. Large scale randomized trials are indicated for more
conclusive results.
Keywords
Babesiosis -
B. gibsoni
-
Crotalus horridus
- dog