Studies in rabbits on the disposition and trypanocidal activity of the anti-trypanosomal drug, diminazene aceturate (Berenil).

After intramuscular injection of 3.5 mg kg-1 to rabbits, diminazene aceturate shows biphasic pharmacokinetics with maximum blood and interstitial fluid concentrations occurring after 15 min and 3 h respectively. Seven days after treatment, 40-50% of the dose had been excreted in the urine and 8-20% in faeces. Highest diminazene residues were determined in liver: 7 days after dosage, residues of 40.53 +/- 4.00 micrograms g-1 were present, corresponding to 35-50% of the dose. The recommended dose of 3.5 mg kg-1 was not curative for Trypanosoma congolense infections of rabbit but did cause the parasitaemia to become subpatent. A limited prophylactic effect was observed.