The current epidemiological revolution in veterinary medicine. Part I

The nature of the current epidemiological revolution in veterinary medicine is considered in terms of the previous evolution of tactics for livestock disease management, and future prospects for epidemiological surveillance as the ‘core’ activity for public and private practice of preventive veterinary medicine.     

Some aspects of the teratogenicity of veterinary drugs

The possible teratogenic effect of drugs used in veterinary medicine is important for two main reasons: safety for the target animals and residue risks for the consumers of animal products.The general laws of chemical teratogenesis are: specific sensitivity, smallness of the teratogenic dose, existence of a sensitive period, and single dose effect. They are illustrated by different examples in domestic animals. In most cases (retinol, griseofulvin), the teratogenic doses are obviously higher than the therapeutic ones; on the contrary, in some circumstances (parbendazole, cambendazole), the safety margin is relativley low and requires strict observance of the recommended dosage.It is pointed out that metabolism is a determining factor of teratogenesis and is related to drug residue toxicity. Yet, it is experimentally possible to distinguish inactive metabolites and teratogenic metabolites that may be present in meat and milk. Consequently, a more appropriate evaluation of risks is possible, compared to the classical method that uses total radioactivity levels. These nitions are illustrated by numerous examples of anthelmintics.     

DNA diagnosis in veterinary medicine: I. DNA fingerprinting]

With the development of recombinant DNA-technology during the last 15 years, it became possible to analyse genetic variability directly at the level of genomic DNA. Restriction-Fragment-Length-Polymorphism (RFLP) and Highly-Variable-Regions (HVRs) lead to the development of new genetic markers, which can be used for the localization of normal and mutated genes. Some polymorphisms are hypervariable and can therefore be applied to carry out DNA-fingerprints thus identifying individuals from man and animals.     

兽用抗菌药物群体药动及药效学研究进展

阐述了兽用抗菌药物群体药动学及药效学的研究历史及现状,并在此基础上提出群体药动-群体药效同步关系正成为兽医药理学研究的一个新方向。     

Gene therapy in veterinary medicine.

Gene therapy in simple terms is the introduction of a gene into a cell, in vivo, in order to ameliorate a disease process. Human clinical trials have focused on the correction of monogenic deficiency diseases, cancer and AIDS. This paper summarises the technology of gene therapy, gives a brief synopsis of the current applications of gene therapy to veterinary medicine and discusses some of the problems which need to be overcome so that gene therapy can become accepted clinical practice.