Center for Zoonoses Research at the University of Illinois
Veterinary Student Summer Training Program
2008 Mentor Profile
Levant Dirikolu
Assistant Professor,
Veterinary Biosciences
Title
Project Description:
In this proposed study, we will determine the absorption, distribution and elimination characteristics of Ponazuril (also called toltaruril sulfone) (Marquis, first medication approved for FDA for the treatment of Equine Protozoal Myeloencelphalitis in horses) in dairy cattle. It has been shown that ponazuril can be effective for the treatment and/or prevention of Neospora caninum infection in cattle, therefore, determination of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination characteristics of ponazuril will provide pharmacokinetics information for future studies in order to determine effective dosing schedule for the treatmetn and prophylaxis of N. caninum infections in cattle. The results of this study are expected to provide a pharmacokinetics database for the evaluation of orally bioavailable formulation of ponazuril for the treament and prevention of naturally acquired bovine neosporosis that is devastating the agricultural economy both in the U.S. and around the world.
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