Nomenclature for parasitic diseases: cohabitation with inconsistency for how long and why?

The author surveys the early history of nomenclature for parasitic diseases or infections which led to the existing usage of synonymous names with diverse spellings for denominating the same disease entities. In order to diminish heterogeneity in nomenclatural usage, principles of the standardized nomenclature of parasitic diseases (SNOPAD) have been put forward by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology. Pros and cons regarding the SNOPAD concept are discussed in seeking consensus terminology. The need for a standard nomenclature may be judged differently. SNOPAD is just a guideline based on carefully reasoned and clearly defined principles for those authors and editors dissatisfied with the existing heterogeneous and inconsistent nomenclatural usage and wish to rely on a uniform and standard disease nomenclature. The major suggestion of SNOPAD is the use solely of suffix -osis when disease name is coined from the name of a parasite taxon. Meanwhile, the proposed principles were found sensible and accepted more in the field of veterinary, less in medical parasitology. In a recent survey it has been revealed that the majority (73.8%) of 126 national language parasitological textbooks or compendia from 21 countries of Europe published since 1990 adopted consistent '-osis' disease terminology and the rest (26.2%) used a mixture of disease names ending in '-osis' and '-iasis' inconsistently. For achieving substantial shift towards the use of more consistent disease terminology, the interest and support of the parasitologists' community is required. Editorials and database producers hold the key to further progress provided they see the advantages of the use of a single name of worldwide currency for each disease entity.     

Evidence-Based Treatment for Laminitis-What Works?

Acute or recurrent laminitis often results in marked structural or mechanical disruption of the hoof with rotation or sinkage of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule in affected horses or those predisposed to developing this complex and devastating disease. A complete knowledge and understanding of laminitis and its complex pathophysiologic cascade remains elusive despite the substantial time and effort that many scientists and clinicians have dedicated over the last few decades. As a result, preventive and therapeutic management strategies remain empirical and anecdotal, with little emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Evidence-based medicine involves integrating individual clinical expertise with external clinical evidence from systematic research to make the best possible decisions regarding patient management. Numerous and overlapping theories have been postulated for the pathophysiology of laminitis. Although beyond the scope of this discussion, the current most commonly discussed theories include vascular or ischemic, inflammatory, metabolic, enzymatic, and biomechanical. In reality, many of these pathways or others yet to be identified are likely involved in the complex cascade of acute laminitis. Substantial focused and relevant research is needed to advance our knowledge and understanding of this complex disease and to develop more effective preventive and therapeutic strategies based on sound scientific and clinical evidence.