# Buparvaquone: veterinary dose and monograph

> Buparvaquone is a veterinary antiparasitic. Hydroxynaphthoquinone — drug of choice for theileriosis (Theileria annulata, T. Indications include bovine tropical theileriosis (T. annulata); east Coast Fever (T. parva); adjunct for severe theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (combine with furosemide / Zubion-F). This monograph lists 2 reference doses for cattle, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/buparvaquone · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## 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

*Buparvaquone doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Theileriosis | 2.5 mg/kg | IM | once; may repeat in 48–72 h | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |
| Theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (Zubion-F) | 2.5 mg/kg | IM | once | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- 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

*Buparvaquone doses for goats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No reference dose for this species | Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species | — | — | — | — |

- 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

*Buparvaquone doses for sheep*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No reference dose for this species | Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species | — | — | — | — |

- 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.

*Buparvaquone doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Theileriosis | 2.5 mg/kg | IM | once; may repeat in 48–72 h | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |
| Theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (Zubion-F) | 2.5 mg/kg | IM | once | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- 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

> **Caution:** 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.

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

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

> **Caution:** 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

> **Caution:** 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](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/allopurinol)
- [Amitraz](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/amitraz)
- [Amprolium](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/amprolium)
- [Atovaquone](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/atovaquone)
- [Clorsulon](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/clorsulon)
- [Closantel](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/closantel)
- [Cypermethrin](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/cypermethrin)
- [Decoquinate](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/decoquinate)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Buparvaquone for cattle?

Reference doses for Buparvaquone in cattle: 2.5 mg/kg IM once; may repeat in 48–72 h (Theileriosis); 2.5 mg/kg IM once (Theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (Zubion-F)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### Can Buparvaquone be given to goats?

Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species (No reference dose for this species).

### Can Buparvaquone be given to sheep?

Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species (No reference dose for this species).

### What is the withdrawal period for Buparvaquone?

Cattle, IM (Theileriosis): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label; Cattle, IM (Theileriosis with pulmonary oedema (Zubion-F)): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Buparvaquone not be used?

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.

### What are the side effects of Buparvaquone in animals?

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

## Sources

- Intas Animal Health catalogue · Zubion / Zubion-F
- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

---

VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.