New therapeutic approaches for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis: Pharmacokinetics of diclazuril sodium salts in horses

Diclazuril, a triazine-based antiprotozoal agent, may have clinical application in the treatment of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Diclazuril was rapidly absorbed, with peak plasma concentrations occurring at 8 to 24 hours after oral-mucosal administration of diclazuril sodium salt. The mean oral bioavailability of diclazuril as Clinacox was 9.5% relative to oral-mucosal administration of diclazuril sodium salt; diclazuril in dimethyl sulfoxide administered orally was 50% less bioavailable than with oral-mucosal administration of diclazuril sodium salt. Diclazuril sodium salt has the potential to be used as a feed additive for the treatment and prophylaxis of EPM and various other apicomplexan-mediated diseases.