Demuth Dc

Pharmacokinetics of recombinant hirudin in healthy horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Recombinant (r)-hirudin is a specific inhibitor of thrombin that is independent of the activity of antithrombin. OBJECTIVES To evaluate pharmacokinetic properties and coagulatory changes of r-hirudin in healthy horses. METHODS Two clinically healthy horses received a single i.v. bolus of 0.4 mg/kg bwt r-hirudin and 6 clinically healthy horses received the same dose subcutaneously (subcut.) q. 12 h for 3 days. Coagulation times and r-hirudin plasma concentration were determined over 720 mins and 3 days after i.v. and subcut. administration, respectively. RESULTS In all horses, treatment with r-hirudin was not associated with systemic or local side effects. After i.v. injection, the 2 horses showed an elimination half-life of 58 and 80 mins, respectively. After subcut. administration, maximum plasma concentration of r-hirudin occurred at 128 +/- 55 mins and declined with a terminal half-life of 561 +/- 364 mins. Maximum response of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) occurred 1.5 h after administration of r-hirudin. A prolongation of 1.9 +/- 0.2 times the pretreatment value was noted. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacokinetics of r-hirudin in healthy horses were similar to those in man and other animal species. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE The results of this study indicate that r-hirudin can be used in horses, but further studies should be performed in order to prove its effectiveness in diseased horses.

Gemeldete unerwünschte Wirkungen von Tierarzneimitteln im Jahr 2005

Im Jahr 2006 wurden insgesamt 190 unerwunschte Arzneimittelwirkungen gemeldet: 118 betrafen pharmakologisch aktive und 72 immunologische Arzneimittel. Die Mehrzahl der gemeldeten Reaktionen betraf die Anwendung von Antiparasitika (48%) und jede zweite Meldung betraf einen Hund. Danach folgten bei den Tierarzneimitteln, der Haufigkeit nach, die Antiinfektiva (20%) und die heterogene Gruppe der umgewidmeten Praparate (12%). Katzen bildeten die zweithaufigste betroffene Tiergruppe (24%), gefolgt von Rindern/Kalbern (16%). Bei immunologischen Arzneimitteln uberwiegen die Meldungen beim Hund (62%), gefolgt von Pferden (11%) und Rindern (10%). Am haufigsten wurde uber unerwunschte Wirkungen nach Anwendung eines Piroplasmose-Impfstoffs berichtet. Zusatzlich gingen 349 Anfragen beim STIZ ein. Wir prasentieren zudem eine schwerwiegende unerwunschte Reaktion in Form eines Stevens-Johnson Syndroms bei einer Katze, sowie einen Fall von Ketaminmissbrauch. Wir sind besonders erfreut uber die zunehmenden Teilnahmen der praktizierenden KollegInnen und arbeiten an zusatzlichen Anpassungen des etablierten Systems.

Reported adverse reactions of veterinary drugs and vaccines in 2005

We received 105 reports of suspected adverse events (SARs) following the use of veterinary drugs for the year 2005. This corresponds to a 35% increase compared to 2004. Practicing veterinarians sent most of these declarations. 73% of these concerned drugs used on companion animals. Antiparasitic drugs approved for topical use were the most frequently represented group with 48%, followed by drugs used to treat gastrointestinal disorders (11%) and drugs used off-label (14%; other target species or other indication). For the first time 2 declarations concerning the application of permethrin containing spot-on preparations used by mistake on cats were received. An overview of 20 declarations about adverse reactions following application of different vaccines is also presented with emphasis on the problem of fibrosarcoma in cats. We are pleased by the growing interest shown by practicing veterinarians for the vigilance system and hope to further develop this collaboration in the future.Im Jahr 2005 wurden 105 Meldungen uber unerwunschten Arzneimittelwirkungen (UAWs) von pharmakologisch aktiven Substanzen und immunologischen Arzneimitteln eingereicht. Dies entspricht eine Zunahme von uber 35% gegenuber dem Jahr 2004. Eine Mehrzahl der Meldungen wurde durch praktizierende Tierarzte eingesandt. Wie in fruheren Jahren wurden hauptsachlich unerwunschte Wirkungen nach Anwendung von Tierarzneimitteln bei Kleintieren gemeldet (73%). Die am haufigsten betroffene Klasse ist wiederum diejenige der Antiparasitika (48%), welche hauptsachlich extern bei Kleintieren angewendet wurden. Danach folgten, der Haufigkeit nach, Praparate zur Behandlung von gastrointestinalen Storungen (11%) und die heterogene Gruppe der umgewidmeten Praparate (14%; Anwendung bei einer anderen Tierart oder fur eine andere Indikation). Zum ersten Mal wurden 2 Meldungen uber die irrtumliche Anwendung von Permethrin-haltigen Spot-on Praparaten bei Katzen ubermittelt. Die Auswertung von 20 Meldungen uber unerwunschte Wirkungen nach Anwendung von Impfstoffen wird mit dem Schwerpunkt Fibrosarkome bei Katzen prasentiert. Wir freuen uns uber die wachsende Beachtung des Vigilanzsystems bei praktizierenden Tierarztinnen und Tierarzten und hoffen, diese Zusammenarbeit weiter entwickeln zu konnen.

Computergestütztes Informationssystem für Vergiftungen (CliniTox) beim Kleintier

Because cases of poisoning are observed rarely, veterinary practitioners have only limited knowledge of clinical toxicology and may face considerable problems in handling toxicological emergencies. In this report, we describe a novel decision support system for the management of poisonings in companion animals that provides rapid access to the current knowledge of clinical toxicology. For that purpose, relevant reports from the peer-reviewed literature were evaluated and organised according to the requirements of a structured database. The information provided for each toxic substance includes a summary of its chemical and physical properties, sources, commercial uses or natural occurrences, toxicokinetic data, mechanisms of action, threshold doses, clinical symptoms with brief case reports, sampling and analytical results, post-mortem findings, differential diagnoses, therapeutic guidelines and references to the literature. This decision support system has been programmed with two user-friendly search functions: a search tool that allows to choose clinical symptoms, and another function that serves to find a substance using its chemical name, the class of compounds to wich it belongs, a possible source or one of its main applications. CliniTox can be accessed directly via our webserver (http://www.clinitox.ch).

Suspected adverse drug reactions in 2004

We received 62 reports of suspected adverse events (SARs) for the year 2004. Their number and repartition according to affected animals and active substances were comparable with the previous year. The distributors or manufacturers submitted most of the declarations, but the proportion submitted by practicing veterinarians is slowly growing. 72% of the declarations dealt with adverse reactions in small animals (cats and dogs), followed by cattle and horses. Antiparasitics, anti-inflammatory drugs and immunologicals were the most frequently mentioned therapeutic classes, which are listed here according to the international ATCvet classification. A report from abroad about a fatality following injection of an antibiotic preparation for cattle prompted Swissmedic to review the security of this medication also sold on the Swiss market. It was decided to modify the package insert to warn about the danger of inadvertent self-injection in humans, to reduce the risk of similar accidents in Switzerland. We hope that the pharmacovigilance system will enjoy an increasing awareness by the practicing veterinarians.

[AntibioticScout.ch: Decision support for the prudent use of antimicrobials: Application in cattle].

INTRODUCTION The administration of antibiotics in livestock has been criticized for many years, in particular because of an inappropriate use and the appearance of antibiotic residues in the environment, which can promote the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria. However, antibiotics are essential for the successful and sustainable control of bacterial pathogens. With the aim of optimizing the use of antibiotics in food animals and minimizing the prevalence of resistant bacteria, AntibioticScout. ch provides a decision aid for the prudent use of antimicrobial drugs. This approach emphasizes the importance of supportive therapy and the hallmarks of preventive concepts. Procedures to improve animal health and animal welfare in accordance with the principles of good veterinary practice are primary and effective tools to reduce the use of antimicrobial drugs. The necessary reduction in the use of antibiotics must, therefore, be accompanied by appropriate management strategies in animal husbandry. In particular, hygiene, animal welfare and biosecurity measures are crucial to ensure an optimal health status in farm animals.

Online information system for ­phytotherapy in animals

INTRODUCTION Phytotherapy becomes increasingly popular in veterinary medicine. To fully exploit the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and ensure their safe use, knowledge about the effective plant parts and preparations is required. Improper use and overdosage of medicinal plants can be toxic. With www.phytoarznei.ch, we provide an online decision support aid that allows for the retrieval of currently available information on medicinal plants and their use in domestic animals. This decision support system is based on the available literature in the field, which after critical evaluation has been incorporated into a structured database. For each medicinal plant or drug, we have listed therapeutic indications, different application types, organoleptic properties, plant ingredients, pharmacological effects, dosages, duration of treatment, toxicity, legal frame for use in livestock and relevance for doping. A user-friendly access to all data is achieved by means of two search programs, either by entering the plant name or name of the drug in a search field or by selecting the desired animal species and therapeutic application from respective drop-down lists. This database on medicinal plant applications in animals is linked to the poisonous plant database of the University of Zurich and, for marketed preparations, to the Swiss compendium of veterinary medicinal products as well as to an index of related veterinary products.

AntibioticScout.ch: A decision supporting tool for antimicrobial stewardship: application to companion animal medicine

INTRODUCTION Bacterial resistances to antimicrobial drugs pose serious public health challenges. The observed increase of resistances is attributed to the uncontrolled, massive and often unnecessary administration of antibiotics both in human and veterinary medicine. To support the responsible use of antimicrobials in animals and help veterinarians selecting the most suitable antimicrobial drugs, we developed the AntibioticScout.ch as a comprehensive decision supporting tool providing online access to the current knowledge of rational antibiotic prescription practices. User-friendly search functions allow for the fast and efficient retrieval of information that is structured in this database by animal species, organ systems and therapeutic indications. In addition, an online form allows to report treatment failures in order to identify problematic cases as well as ensuing risks and take appropriate mitigation measures. The present report describes the workflow of this decision support system applied to the prudent use of antimicrobials in companion animal medicine.

AntibioticScout.ch: Eine Entscheidungshilfe für den umsichtigen Einsatz von antimikrobiellen Wirkstoffen: Anwendung in der Kleintiermedizin

INTRODUCTION Bacterial resistances to antimicrobial drugs pose serious public health challenges. The observed increase of resistances is attributed to the uncontrolled, massive and often unnecessary administration of antibiotics both in human and veterinary medicine. To support the responsible use of antimicrobials in animals and help veterinarians selecting the most suitable antimicrobial drugs, we developed the AntibioticScout.ch as a comprehensive decision supporting tool providing online access to the current knowledge of rational antibiotic prescription practices. User-friendly search functions allow for the fast and efficient retrieval of information that is structured in this database by animal species, organ systems and therapeutic indications. In addition, an online form allows to report treatment failures in order to identify problematic cases as well as ensuing risks and take appropriate mitigation measures. The present report describes the workflow of this decision support system applied to the prudent use of antimicrobials in companion animal medicine.

Swiss veterinary drug compendium as a tool for reconversions

The new Swiss ordinance on veterinary drugs poses a new challenge to the veterinarians, specially those working with farm animals. A complete overview about the registered veterinary drugs and immunobiologicals is absolutely necessary to cope with these new tasks: the internet version of the Swiss Veterinary Drug Compendium is a versatile tool to satisfy this needs (http://www.tierarzneimittel.ch). Due to the frequent updates and powerful search possibilities, this database is a reliable and comprehensive information system regarding Swiss veterinary drugs. We will demonstrate how this system can be used as a valuable help in the case of reconversions of drugs (e.g. use of small animal drugs in farm animals).