Diminazene Diaceturate: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antiparasitic

Also known as

Berenil, Nilbery, Prozomin

Species with doses

Dogs, Cattle, Horses, Goats, Sheep and Buffalo

General dose range

3.5–10 mg/kg IM once — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

IM

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Babesiosis (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, dog)
• Trypanosomosis (T. evansi, T. congolense, T. vivax)
• Theileriosis (mixed protozoal infection)
• Pyrexia of unknown origin in cattle (empirical)

Diminazene Diaceturate 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.

Dogs

• Babesia canis: Plumb’s p.415 (Taboada & Lobetti 2006): 3.5–5 mg/kg IM once for B. canis, repeat in 24 h for B. gibsoni; neurotoxicity risk rises when TOTAL dosage reaches 7 mg/kg or more. South African protocol: 4.2 mg/kg IM, not repeated within 21 days. Papich 5e: 3.5–5 mg/kg IM q12h for two doses.

Cattle

• Babesiosis / mixed protozoal: 1 mL / 10–20 kg b.wt. deep IM. Repeat after 24 h only if indicated. WITHDRAWAL — Plumb's p.416: withdrawal varies by product, dose and country; the South African Berenil (Intervet) registration carries a 21-day slaughter withdrawal. No milk withdrawal is stated. Indian labels commonly state none at all — verify against the product in hand. Dose: Papich 5e cattle 3.5–7 mg/kg IM; Plumb’s p.415 (Berenil label) 3.5 mg/kg IM once, up to 8 mg/kg by susceptibility, never more than 4 g per animal.
• Resistant trypanosomosis: Plumb’s p.415 (Berenil label, West Africa): horses, cattle, sheep and goats 3.5 mg/kg IM once, increased up to 8 mg/kg depending on susceptibility; do NOT exceed 4 g total per animal. Papich 5e: cattle 3.5–7 mg/kg IM. (The previous 10 mg/kg exceeds both references.)

Horses

• Trypanosoma evansi (surra): Plumb’s p.415 (Berenil label): 3.5 mg/kg IM once, up to 8 mg/kg for less susceptible trypanosomes; max 4 g per animal. Papich 5e: equine piroplasmosis 3.5–5 mg/kg IM q48h for two treatments; Babesia 3–5 mg/kg IM q12h for two treatments. Narrow safety margin in horses — see Papich precautions.

Goats

• Babesiosis / trypanosomosis: Plumb’s p.415 (Berenil label — horses, cattle, sheep, goats): 3.5 mg/kg IM once, increased up to 8 mg/kg depending on susceptibility; do not exceed 4 g total. Follow the product-label withdrawal.

Sheep

• Babesiosis / trypanosomosis: Plumb’s p.415 (Berenil label — horses, cattle, sheep, goats): 3.5 mg/kg IM once, increased up to 8 mg/kg depending on susceptibility; do not exceed 4 g total. Follow the product-label withdrawal.

Buffalo

• Babesiosis / trypanosomosis (surra): Dosed as cattle: Papich 5e 3.5–7 mg/kg IM; Plumb’s p.415 (Berenil label) 3.5 mg/kg IM once, up to 8 mg/kg for less susceptible trypanosomes, maximum 4 g per animal. Buffalo are labelled with cattle on Indian products. Deep IM in the neck — perivascular leakage causes sloughing. Follow the product-label withdrawal.

Contraindications

Camels — frequent fatal reactions reported. Severe hepatic / renal impairment. Concurrent organophosphate exposure. Hypersensitivity. Use with extreme caution in dogs and horses — narrow therapeutic margin.

Species-specific warnings

Camelids: Diminazene is associated with fatal reactions in camels — avoid.

Dogs: Narrow therapeutic margin; >5 mg/kg risks fatal neurotoxicity. Always use exact weight.

Adverse effects

• Severe local injection-site reaction / sterile abscess if perivascular
• CNS toxicity (ataxia, opisthotonus, seizures) at high doses — especially dogs
• Hypotension, tachycardia, salivation
• Hepatic / renal injury on repeat dosing

Drug interactions

• Other CNS-toxic drugs (organophosphates, ivermectin in MDR1 dogs): theoretical additive neurotoxicity
• Tranquillisers (acepromazine, xylazine): may potentiate hypotension from diminazene
• NSAIDs: no significant interaction
• Imidocarb: alternative babesicide — do NOT combine (additive neurotoxicity)

Pregnancy and lactation

Generally avoided in pregnant cattle in first trimester — limited teratogenicity data but conservative practice. Safe at therapeutic doses in established pregnancy. Excreted in milk in low concentrations.

Monitoring

• Exact body weight before EVERY dose — narrow safety margin demands precision
• Injection-site for swelling / abscess — deep IM, rotate sites
• Neurological status × 24 h post-administration (dogs especially)
• Withdrawal periods (cattle): 21 d slaughter, 4 d milk (verify per jurisdiction)
• Single dose only — repeat dosing increases cumulative neurotoxicity risk

Toxicity and overdose

NARROW THERAPEUTIC MARGIN. Dogs: doses >5 mg/kg cause fatal neurotoxicity — haemorrhagic encephalitis, ataxia, seizures, death within hours. Cumulative dosing dangerous — single dose only with 14-day minimum between doses. Camelids: FATAL reactions reported. Horses: narrow margin. Injection-site reactions (sterile abscess, tissue necrosis). Hypotension, hypersalivation, vomiting at higher doses.

Management: No specific antidote. Aggressive supportive care: IV fluids, anti-seizure (diazepam 0.5 mg/kg IV prn for seizures), atropine for hypersalivation / bradycardia, mannitol for cerebral oedema. Recovery uncertain in established neurotoxicity. Dogs especially: prognosis grave once seizures begin.

Clinical pearls

• Cattle / sheep / goat trypanosomosis: 3.5–7 mg/kg deep IM single dose (Berenil / Nilbery 7% RTU)
• Bovine babesiosis: 3.5 mg/kg IM single dose; may repeat in 14 days if relapse
• Equine surra (T. evansi): 7 mg/kg IM single dose — NARROW MARGIN
• Canine babesiosis (B. canis): 3.5 mg/kg IM — NEVER exceed 5 mg/kg (fatal neurotoxicity)
• DEEP IM only — rotate sites; SC / IV cause severe tissue necrosis
• NEVER in camels (fatal)
• Combination with imidocarb: do NOT — additive neurotoxicity
• Phenazone-containing formulations reduce injection-site pain — preferred over plain diminazene

Mechanism of action

Aromatic diamidine trypanocide and babesicide. Binds AT-rich regions of kinetoplast DNA in trypanosomes and Babesia, inhibiting DNA / RNA synthesis and disrupting mitochondrial function. Effective against both Trypanosoma (T. congolense, T. vivax, T. evansi) and intra-erythrocytic Babesia. Commonly co-formulated with phenazone (analgesic) and chlorocresol (preservative) — the phenazone reduces injection-site pain.

Formulations and products

• Nilbery 70 mg + Phenazone 375 mg / mL (Intas, 30 / 90 mL)
• Berenil VET 7 % RTU 70 mg + Phenazone 375 mg / mL (MSD)
• Prozomin 70 mg + Phenazone / mL (Virbac)
• Nilbery (Intas (Neovet)) — Diminazene 70 mg + Phenazone 375 mg / mL, Injection
• Berenil VET 7 % RTU (MSD Animal Health) — Diminazene 70 mg + Phenazone 375 mg / mL, Ready-to-use injection
• Prozomin (Virbac) — Diminazene + Phenazone + Chlorocresol, Injection
• Zokill-RTU (Mankind Veticura) — Diminazene Aceturate 70 mg + Phenazone 375 mg / mL, Ready-to-use injection
• Bermin-RTU (Assure Biotech, Jagadhri (HR)) — Diminazene aceturate 70 mg + Phenazone 375 mg per mL, Ready-to-use injection

Storage

Powder: 15–25 °C, dry, protected from light. Reconstituted RTU injection: discard within 24 h. Multidose vial: 28 days after broaching, kept in original amber vial.

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

• Deltamethrin
• Dichlorvos (DDVP)
• Diclazuril
• Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)
• Doramectin
• Emodepside
• Eprinomectin
• Epsiprantel

Frequently asked questions