Immunomodulators for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in food-producing animals.

The goal of immunomodulation in food-producing animals is to regulate immunity for the benefit of the animal and production efficiency. Immunomodulators are substances that exert this control and include cytokines, pharmaceuticals, microbial products, nutraceuticals, and traditional medicinal plants. Although treatment and prevention of infectious diseases are the most common reasons to use immunomodulators, other conditions, such as amelioration of stress-induced immunosuppression, maturation of the neonate's developing immune response, and strategies to reduce the metabolic cost of eliciting an immune response also are well suited for immunomodulation. Continued discovery of new immune regulators and increased understanding of immunity in food-producing animals will ensure new opportunities for the use of immunomodulators in food-producing animals.     

Wild animals as reservoirs of infectious diseases in the UK

This review aims to illustrate the extent to which wildlife act as reservoirs of infectious agents that cause disease in domestic stock, pet and captive animals and humans. More than 40 agents are described. In the case of some of these, e.g. Cryptosporidium spp., Escherichia coli O157 and malignant catarrhal fever, the current evidence is that wildlife either does not act as a reservoir or is of limited importance. However, in the case of many important diseases, including bovine tuberculosis, Weil's disease, Lyme disease, avian influenza, duck virus enteritis and louping ill, wild animals are considered to be the principal source of infection. Wildlife may be involved in the epidemiology of other major diseases, such as neosporosis, Johne's disease, mucosal disease and foot and mouth disease, but further studies are needed. The UK would benefit from a more positive approach to the study of wildlife and the infections they harbour.     

Wild animals as transmitters of infectious diseases]

The present contribution contains a summarized overview of current literature dealing with the most important zoonoses that can be transmitted directly or indirectly from indigenous wildlife to man. Following Weber (1994) the diseases are classified according to the species of pathogen. Ways of infection are shown and the importance of these zoonoses is discussed with regard to the frequency of occurrence, the degree of sickness and the risk for man.     

Overview of the use of antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections in horses

The use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine is under great scrutiny with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in the human population. Equine veterinarians rely on antimicrobials as an essential tool for the treatment of infections in horses, but there is much criticism of some use, particularly prophylaxis. While the appropriate use of antimicrobials can be justified in equine medicine, the misuse cannot. The definition of appropriate use is complex and involves the indication for therapy, antimicrobial selection, dosing regimen and timing and route of administration, duration of therapy and modification of therapy based on microbial susceptibility and clinical response. The aim of this article is to provide guidance on these factors to assist equine veterinarians in determining what constitutes appropriate antimicrobial use in horses.     

Concurrent use of veterinary drugs and herbal medicines in racing Standardbreds

Standardbred trainers from 1 racetrack and 7 off-track training facilities were surveyed to determine the most common drugs, and prevalence of concurrent herb administration. Furosemide (on-track) and anti-inflammatory drugs (off-track) were the most common drugs administered. Among horses on-track, 9.8% received herbs compared with 13.8% off-track horses; 67% and 58% of these horses, respectively, received concurrent drugs.