{{Short description|Anti-parasite drug with a di-amidine}} {{cs1 config|name-list-style=vanc|display-authors=6}} {{Drugbox | IUPAC_name = 4-[2-(4-Carbamimidoylphenyl)iminohydrazinyl]benzenecarboximidamide | image = Diminazene.svg | image_class = skin-invert-image | width = 260 | image2 = Diminazen 3D ball.png | image_class2 = bg-transparent | alt2 = Ball-and-stick model of diminazen <!--Clinical data--> | tradename = Azidin, Berenil, Ganasag, Pirocide | pregnancy_AU = <!-- A / B1 / B2 / B3 / C / D / X --> | pregnancy_US = <!-- A / B / C / D / X --> | pregnancy_category = | legal_AU = <!-- Unscheduled / S2 / S3 / S4 / S5 / S6 / S7 / S8 / S9 --> | legal_CA = <!-- / Schedule I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII --> | legal_UK = <!-- GSL / P / POM / CD / Class A, B, C --> | legal_US = <!-- OTC / Rx-only / Schedule I, II, III, IV, V --> | legal_status = Veterinary | routes_of_administration = IM, SC <!--Pharmacokinetic data--> | bioavailability = | protein_bound = | metabolism = | elimination_half-life = | excretion = <!--Identifiers--> | index_label = | index2_label =aceturate | CAS_number = 536-71-0 | CAS_number2 = 908-54-3 | ATCvet = yes | ATC_prefix = P51 | ATC_suffix = DF01 | ATC_supplemental = | PubChem = 2354 | UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}} | UNII = Y5G36EEA5Z | UNII2 = JI8SAD85NO | DrugBank = | ChemSpiderID = 2264 | ChEBI_Ref = {{ebicite|correct|EBI}} | ChEBI = 81724 | ChEMBL_Ref = {{ebicite|correct|EBI}} | ChEMBL = 124025 | synonyms = 4,4'-(1-Triazene-1,3-diyl)bis(benzenecarboximidamide) <!--Chemical data--> | C=14 | H=15 | N=7 | smiles = C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=N)N)N/N=N/C2=CC=C(C=C2)C(=N)N | StdInChI=1S/C14H15N7/c15-13(16)9-1-5-11(6-2-9)19-21-20-12-7-3-10(4-8-12)14(17)18/h1-8H,(H3,15,16)(H3,17,18)(H,19,20) | StdInChIKey = XNYZHCFCZNMTFY-UHFFFAOYSA-N }}
'''Diminazene''' (INN; also known as '''diminazen''') is an anti-infective medication for animals that is sold under a variety of brand names. It is effective against certain protozoa such as ''Babesia'', ''Trypanosoma'', and ''Cytauxzoon''. The drug may also be effective against certain bacteria including ''Brucella'' and ''Streptococcus''.<ref name="Peregrine">{{cite journal | vauthors = Peregrine AS, Mamman M | title = Pharmacology of diminazene: a review | journal = Acta Tropica | volume = 54 | issue = 3–4 | pages = 185–203 | date = September 1993 | pmid = 7902657 | doi = 10.1016/0001-706X(93)90092-P }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mungube EO, Vitouley HS, Allegye-Cudjoe E, Diall O, Boucoum Z, Diarra B, Sanogo Y, Randolph T, Bauer B, Zessin KH, Clausen PH | date = August 2012 | title = Detection of multiple drug-resistant Trypanosoma congolense populations in village cattle of south-east Mali | journal = Parasites & Vectors | volume = 5 | article-number = 155 | doi = 10.1186/1756-3305-5-155 | pmc = 3432589 | pmid = 22852796 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Chemically it is a di-amidine and it is formulated as its aceturate salt, diminazene aceturate.
The mechanism is not well understood; it probably inhibits DNA replication,<ref name="Peregrine" /> but also has affinity to RNA. The drug is known to change the structure of kinetoplast DNA in the ''Trypanosoma cruzi'' parasite, which causes Chagas' disease. In particular, kinetoplasts from parasites exposed to the drug have more densely linked minicircles, leading to the formation of fibers within the networks. <ref name="b270">{{cite journal | vauthors = Zuma AA, Cavalcanti DP, Zogovich M, Machado AC, Mendes IC, Thiry M, Galina A, de Souza W, Machado CR, Motta MC | date = February 2015 | title = Unveiling the effects of berenil, a DNA-binding drug, on Trypanosoma cruzi: implications for kDNA ultrastructure and replication | journal = Parasitology Research | volume = 114 | issue = 2 | pages = 419–430 | doi = 10.1007/s00436-014-4199-8 | pmid = 25349143 | hdl = 2268/173546 | hdl-access = free }}</ref>
==Side effects== Acute side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, and hypotension (low blood pressure). Diminazen can harm the liver, kidneys and brain, which is potentially life-threatening; camels are especially susceptible to these effects.<ref name="Peregrine" />
==Resistance== The Gibe River Valley in southwest Ethiopia showed universal resistance between July 1989 and February 1993.<ref name="Mulugeta-et-al-1997" /> This likely indicates a permanent loss of function in this area against the tested target, ''T. congolense'' isolated from Boran cattle.<ref name="Mulugeta-et-al-1997">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mulugeta W, Wilkes J, Mulatu W, Majiwa PA, Masake R, Peregrine AS | title = Long-term occurrence of Trypanosoma congolense resistant to diminazene, isometamidium and homidium in cattle at Ghibe, Ethiopia | journal = Acta Tropica | volume = 64 | issue = 3–4 | pages = 205–217 | date = April 1997 | pmid = 9107367 | doi = 10.1016/s0001-706x(96)00645-6 | publisher = Elsevier BV | s2cid = 23878484 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Amidines Category:Antiprotozoal agents Category:Veterinary drugs Category:Triazenes