Veterinary compositions for the treatment of parasitic diseases

Abstract

Micellar non-aqueous or aqueous compositions for the therapeutic treatment of animal diseases caused by parasitic worms or nematodes, comprising rafoxanide and specific combinations of solvents which act as stabilising and absorption-promoting agents. The solvents are selected from non-ionic surface-active agents such as Tween®-80 and from N-methylpyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone or dimetylsulfoxide. The compositions are easy to prepare, stable upon storage and can be administered orally, by injection or topically. With these formulations, an improvement of the efficacy of rafoxanide in the treatment of the diseases is observed.

1 . A micellar composition for the treatment of parasitic diseases in animals, said composition comprising rafoxanide, a non-ionic surface active agent, and either N-methylpyrrolidone, or 2-pyrrolidone, or a combination of N-methylpyrrolidone with 2-pyrrolidone, or the combination of dimethylsulfoxide with N-methylpyrrolidone and/or 2-pyrrolidone.  
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein the non-ionic surface active agent is polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween® 80).  
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 1  or  2 , which further comprises glycerol formal.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the amount of rafoxanide is between 2.5% and 25% weight/volume.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the amount of rafoxanide is 12.5% weight/volume.  
     
     
         6 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the amount of non-ionic surface-active agent is between 5 and 50% weight/volume.  
     
     
         7 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 , which further comprises water and acetic acid.  
     
     
         8 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  which further comprises other agents like excipients, preservatives, vitamins, further stabilising agents, carriers, antioxidants, photostabilisers, colorants, further absorption-promoting substances, or thickeners.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , which further comprises an anthelmintic antibiotic selected from the group consisting of avermectins or their derivatives.  
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 9  wherein the amount of avermectin or derivative thereof in the composition is preferably between 0% and 15% weight/volume.  
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 9  wherein the anthelmintic antibiotic is ivermectin.  
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 11 , which comprises 12% of rafoxanide and 0.8% of ivermectin.  
     
     
         13 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  12  for use as a medicament.  
     
     
         14 . Use of a composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  12  for the preparation of a medicament for the therapeutic treatment of animal diseases caused by parasitic worms or nematodes.  
     
     
         15 . Use of a composition according to any one of  claims 9  to  12  for the preparation of a medicament for the therapeutic treatment of internal or external diseases caused by parasites affecting cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats.