Evidence-based veterinary medicine: what it is, what it isn't and how to do it

EBM represents a more formal process for considering the merits of published research in the context of clinical decision making. By combining the application of formal rules of evidence in evaluating the clinical literature (critical appraisal) with the ability to conduct efficient and effective literature searches, any clinician is able to keep current on topics of interest. Learning the core skills that enable the practice of EBM is easier than expected. The EBM Working Group published a series of Users' Guides to enable clinicians to learn critical appraisal of the primary literature in a systematic fashion. The complete series of Users' Guides is available free of charge over the web (www. CCHE.net). Similarly, PubMed, which contains a number of easy to use search filters (Clinical Queries) that can identify high-quality papers published in key veterinary journals, is also available free of charge over the web (www.PubMed.org). How ever one obtains the core skills, an efficient, structured approach to the practice of EBM can actually reduce the amount of time one requires to keep current by helping the user locate and identify methodologically rigorous research. Although the entire process can be self-taught, as with any new technique, other effective ways to bring these new skills into your practice setting include attending a conference workshop or even hiring a new graduate who has already been trained in the process.     

Frequent deworming in horses; it usually does not do any good, but it often harms

Due to excessive and inappropriate use of dewormers anthelmintic resistance has developed as a significant problem in horse parasites in the Netherlands. Since it is unlikely that new classes of anthelmintics against horse nematodes will be introduced in the near future, it is important to use the present drugs wisely. Veterinarians should advice horse owners about worm control programs with a more targeted approach. The number of anthelmintic treatments should be reduced and, through selective anthelmintic treatments, further development of anthelmintic resistance should be delayed. Preferably, horses with a low faecal egg count should not be treated at all to ascertain a reduction of the selection pressure for anthelmintic resistance. The propensity for low faecal egg counts is hereditary. This implies that mature horses with consistent low egg counts can be detected by faecal examination and that it is not necessary to repeat faecal examination each time in these animals. New horses on the farm should always be dewormed on arrival and should be introduced only after the efficacy of treatment has been determined. Anthelmintic resistance can also be introduced with the arrival of a new animal that is infected with drug-resistant parasites.     

想一想:为现代农业建设做些什么?

伴随着社会的进步,人们越来越关注人大、政协会议的热门话题。因为“两会”的热门话题,是民意、民声的反映,也是政府某些决策取向的征兆。