Buparvaquone: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antiparasitic

Also known as

Zubion, Zubion-F, Butalex

Species with doses

Cattle

General dose range

2.5 mg/kg IM once (repeat in 48–72 h if needed) — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

IM

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Bovine tropical theileriosis (T. annulata)
• East Coast Fever (T. parva)
• Adjunct for severe theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (combine with furosemide / Zubion-F)

Buparvaquone dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Cattle

• Theileriosis: Label-sourced (Zubion, Intas): 2.5 mg/kg (1 mL per 20 kg) deep IM in the neck, max 10 mL per site, repeat once after 48–72 h if needed. Buparvaquone has no monograph in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. Withdrawals are long — follow the product label.
• Theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (Zubion-F): Label-sourced: buparvaquone 2.5 mg/kg IM with furosemide in the same product (Zubion-F) for theileriosis complicated by pulmonary oedema. Not in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. Follow the product-label withdrawal.

Goats

• No reference dose for this species: Buparvaquone is not in Papich 5e or Plumb’s, and the Indian products are labelled for cattle and buffalo; no goat dose source was found.

Sheep

• No reference dose for this species: Buparvaquone is not in Papich 5e or Plumb’s, and the Indian products are labelled for cattle and buffalo; no sheep dose source was found.

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

• Theileriosis: Label-sourced (Zubion, Intas): 2.5 mg/kg (1 mL per 20 kg) deep IM in the neck, max 10 mL per site, repeat once after 48–72 h if needed. Buparvaquone has no monograph in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. Withdrawals are long — follow the product label.
• Theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (Zubion-F): Label-sourced: buparvaquone 2.5 mg/kg IM with furosemide in the same product (Zubion-F) for theileriosis complicated by pulmonary oedema. Not in Papich 5e or Plumb’s. Follow the product-label withdrawal.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity. Severe pulmonary oedema (Zubion-F combination is preferred). Do NOT exceed 10 mL per injection site — risk of local necrosis. Use only IM, not IV or SC.

Species-specific warnings

Cattle: Primary indication. 2.5 mg/kg deep IM single dose. 42 d slaughter / 48 h milk withdrawal (Indian label). Max 10 mL per injection site.

Goats: Extra-label 2.5 mg/kg IM for theileriosis. Same withdrawal considerations.

Sheep: Extra-label 2.5 mg/kg IM for theileriosis.

Horses: Limited use — not approved. Equine babesiosis (Theileria equi): 4–5 mg/kg IM at 48-h intervals × 4 doses has been reported but variable efficacy.

Adverse effects

• Local injection-site swelling / pain
• Transient tachycardia
• Sterile abscess at injection site if volume per site exceeded

Drug interactions

• Atovaquone (related hydroxynaphthoquinone): theoretical cross-resistance
• Furosemide: SYNERGISTIC for theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (Zubion-F combo)
• Diminazene / imidocarb: complementary spectrum — but additive injection-site reactions if same site
• NSAIDs: complementary anti-inflammatory effect in theileriosis — no direct interaction
• Diuretics: useful in theileriosis pulmonary oedema phase

Pregnancy and lactation

Generally safe in pregnant cattle at therapeutic doses. Crosses placenta in low amounts. No reported teratogenicity. Used widely in pregnant dairy / breeding cattle for theileriosis.

Monitoring

• Clinical response — pyrexia resolves in 24–48 h, lymphadenopathy in 5–7 days
• Recovery of PCV / TPP weekly
• Withdrawal: 42 d slaughter / 48 h milk (Indian label — verify per jurisdiction)
• Injection-site for swelling / sterile abscess (deep IM, rotate sites, max 10 mL per site)
• Pulmonary oedema in advanced cases — combine with furosemide (Zubion-F) if respiratory signs

Toxicity and overdose

Wide therapeutic margin compared to diminazene / imidocarb. Injection-site reactions: pain, swelling, sterile abscess (deep IM mandatory, max 10 mL per site). Hypersensitivity rare. No reported neurotoxicity at therapeutic doses. Tissue residues at injection site can be persistent (months) — strict slaughter withdrawal.

Management: No specific antidote. Supportive: IV fluids, anti-inflammatory for injection-site reaction. Diuretic (furosemide) if pulmonary oedema. Most overdoses well tolerated.

Clinical pearls

• Bovine tropical theileriosis (T. annulata): 2.5 mg/kg deep IM single dose — curative in 90% of cases if treated early
• East Coast Fever (T. parva): 2.5 mg/kg IM single; may repeat at 48 h if severe
• Theileriosis with pulmonary oedema: use Zubion-F (with furosemide) — synergistic effect
• DEEP IM ONLY — max 10 mL per injection site to prevent sterile abscess
• Theileria orientalis (Asian, Oceanic): emerging — buparvaquone effective at 2.5 mg/kg IM
• Sheep / goat theileriosis: extra-label 2.5 mg/kg IM single
• Combine with anti-inflammatory (meloxicam / flunixin) for fever / inflammation control
• Strict slaughter withdrawal — tissue residues persist months

Mechanism of action

Hydroxynaphthoquinone antitheilerial. Selectively inhibits the cytochrome bc1 complex (Complex III) of the Theileria parasite mitochondrial electron transport chain — disrupts parasite respiration and ATP synthesis. Highly effective against Theileria annulata (Mediterranean theileriosis) and T. parva (East Coast Fever). Single-dose curative in most early-treated cases. Limited activity against Babesia (use diminazene / imidocarb instead).

Formulations and products

• Zubion 50 mg/mL injection (Intas, 2 / 20 / 30 mL)
• Zubion-F 50 mg/mL + Furosemide 55 mg/mL (Intas, 30 mL)
• Zubion (Intas (Neovet)) — 50 mg/mL, IM injection
• Zubion-F (Intas (Neovet)) — Buparvaquone 50 + Furosemide 55 mg/mL, IM injection (with diuretic)
• Prozoff (Indian Immunologicals (IIL), Hyderabad) — Buparvaquone 50 mg/mL (5 % oily injection), IM injection (oil base, with sorbitan monooleate)
• Bupasure (Assure Biotech, Jagadhri (HR)) — 50 mg/mL, Injection - deep IM

Storage

Injection: 15–25 °C, protect from light AMBER vial (light-sensitive). Do NOT freeze. Multidose vial: discard 28 days after broaching.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other antiparasitics

• Allopurinol
• Amitraz
• Amprolium
• Atovaquone
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• Closantel
• Cypermethrin
• Decoquinate

Frequently asked questions