Veterinary drug legal situation for oral medication in animal facilities in Germany

Oral medication of animal stocks can be administered via oral ready-to-use veterinary medicinal products or by using medicated feedingstuffs. The regulations contained in the German Drug Act (Arzneimittelgesetz - AMG) and the ordinances derived from the AMG are applicable to both types of medicinal product. The legal requirements relating to the manufacture, authorisation, marketing, dispensing and proper use of these medicinal products in respect of oral medication are dealt with in detail. Pursuant to Section 13 AMG, companies that manufacture medicated feedingstuffs require a manufacturing licence. To take into account the special features of these medicinal products, specific stipulations have been laid down regarding the manufacture and dispensing of medicated feedingstuffs by these companies. The use of medicated feedingstuffs is for various reasons in steep decline, while oral ready-to-use medicinal products are, according to reports on practice in the relevant sector, increasingly being used to treat animal stocks as well. When dispensing veterinary medicinal products, the veterinarian must comply with the state of the art and make sure that the animal keeper is able to use the drugs properly. In order to react to doubts regarding compliance with these legal requirements, recommendations for use of oral medication should be developed which provide veterinarians with an aid to assist them in deciding which type of drugs are most suited for the respective case, and what is to be complied with in their use. The recommendations for use are intended to facilitate the correct application of oral medication in respect of both types of veterinary medicinal product.     

The use of aminoglycosides, colistin and beta-lactam antibiotics as animal feed drugs for pigs in Schleswig-Holstein

An evaluation of production orders for medicated feedingstuffs for pigs given in 1998 in Schleswig-Holstein showed aminoglycosides, colistin and beta-lactam antibiotics as regularly used antibiotical ingredients. The presented study analyses the production orders which include these antibiotics more in detail particularly with regard to the prescribed dosages. In part, there were deviations to the rules of good clinical practise for the use of anitbiotics. The applied dosage of spectinomycin and apramycin was often lower than suggested in the literature. The low oral bioavailability of amoxicillin was not considered when using amoxicillin in medicated feedingstuffs.     

The use of sulfonamides and sulfonamide/trimethoprim combinations as animal feed drugs for pigs in Schleswig-Holstein

An evaluation of production orders for medicated feedingstuffs for pigs given in 1998 in Schleswig-Holstein showed sulphonamides and combinations of sulphonamides and trimethoprim as frequently used antibiotical ingredients. The presented study analyses the production orders which include sulphonamides and combinations of sulphonamides and trimethoprim in more detail. There were large deviations to the rules of good clinical practise for the use of antibiotics. The applied dosage was often lower than suggested in the literature.     

The use of macrolides, lincomycin and tiamulin as animal feed drugs for pigs in Schleswig-Holstein

An evaluation of production orders for medicated feedingstuffs for pigs given in 1998 in Schleswig-Holstein showed macrolides, lincomycin and tiamulin as frequently used antibiotical ingredients. The presented study analyses the production orders which include macrolides, lincomycin or tiamulin in more detail. There were large deviations to the rules of good clinical practise for the use of antibiotics (2000). The applied dosage was often lower than suggested in the literature.     

National programme of official control of animal feedingstuffs under surveillance of veterinary inspection in Poland

Poland as a new EC country is obliged in agree with Directive 95/53/EC to drawn up one, coherent and coordinated national programme of official inspection, irrespective of the organisational structure, and the number of inspection authorities in a country. Taking these facts into account the author has worked out the Polish National Programme of an official control conducted by the Veterinary Inspection in the field of animal feedingstuffs sector in Poland. The objective of the programme is to lay down the substantive scope of official inspections and laboratory control testing of animal feedingstuffs, appropriate for the surveillance exercised by the Veterinary Inspection. The programme is under implementation process which has begun in 2004.     

Detection and identification of banned processed animal protein in feedingstuffs by microscopic and PCR methods

The aim of the study was to present the results of comparative evaluation of the usefulness of PCR and microscopic methods for the detection of Processed Animal Protein (PAP) in feedingstuffs. In the validation study, the limit of the detection for PCR was determined on 0.05% for beef, 0.1% for pork and 0.2% for poultry meat and bone meal (MBM). Among 62 doubtful samples of feedingstuffs examined by microscopic method 41 (66.13%) were found as positive. Based on the results obtained with the use of the microscopic and PCR methods it is possible to state that the molecular biology methods can, at present, be used as a supplementary method in PAP detection.     

Evaluation of a layer diet formulated from non‐conventional feedingstuffs

1. A layer diet, the formulation of which was based on several non‐conventional feedingstuffs, was evaluated at the research station and under small farm conditions in Sri Lanka. The new feedingstuffs included finger millet, rice polishings, rubber seed meal, cassava leaf meal, ipil ipil leaf meal and dried poultry manure. A commercial mash, that is normally used on the farm, served as the control.

2. The performance and egg quality characteristics were similar between the test and control diets, the only exception being the egg yolk colour which was improved (P< 0.05) by feeding the test diet. Food cost per dozen eggs was lowered by feeding the test diet.

3. It is possible to formulate layer diets using non‐conventional feedingstuffs, achieve acceptable production and lower the food costs under small farm conditions in tropical developing countries.     

Modified assay for true and apparent metabolisable energy based on tube feeding

1. To improve the accuracy with which true metabolisable energy (TME) values of feedingstuffs are determined, a modification to the assay based on tube-feeding is proposed. 2. To ensure that the gastrointestinal tracts of the experimental birds are as empty as possible at the start of the assay it is recommended that the normal food is withdrawn 48 h before tube-feeding. 3. In order to partly alleviate the effects of starvation, all birds are given two doses of 25 g glucose (as an aqueous solution) about 40 and 16 h before tube-feeding. Birds, from which endogenous energy losses are to be derived, are fed 50 g glucose rather than given no food. 4. All birds are given 50 ml water by tube about 32 h after feeding to overcome any effects induced by low water intake. 5. A comparison of the two procedures with 8 feedingstuffs showed that the mean coefficient of variation was reduced from 5.5% to 1.5% for TME and from 4.7% to 1.8% for TME.     

Prophylactic medication of feedlot calves with tilmicosin

The parenteral administration to calves of the antibiotic tilmicosin either on arrival at a feedlot or 72 hours later was evaluated in a group of 308 steer calves. The calves were allotted to 24 pens so that there were eight replicates of the two medicated groups and eight replicates of the control group. The need for veterinary treatment was reduced significantly (P less than 0.05) during the first month of the feeding period in the two medicated groups. The medicated groups had an improved average daily weight gain (P less than 0.01) over the trial period compared with the non-medicated animals. This improved average daily gain by the medicated groups was not reduced when animals with respiratory disease were excluded from the calculations. The medicated groups also had an improved feed conversion efficiency (P less than 0.01) over the first 60 days of the feeding period compared with the non-medicated animals.     

Oestrus control and the incidence of mammary nodules in bitches,a clinical study with two progestogens

Summary

The incidence, size and location of mammary nodules were established in 10 practices in The Netherlands by the clinical examination of bitches in which oestrus was controlled with proligestone (P), 331 animals, or medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP), 341 animals and in 339 animals never medicated with such compounds.

In comparison with the unmedicated controls and the P‐medicated animals of comparable age the incidence of mammary nodules of all sizes was significantly increased in the MAP‐medicated animals.

There was no significant difference in nodule incidence between the P‐medicated animals and the control animals.

Based on the assumption that nodules above a certain size are most likely tumours, these results indicate that oestrus control with MAP stimulates tumour development even in animals medicated for less than four years.

The practical value of the reported differences, especially in relation to the subsequent requirement for surgical removal of tumours in bitches, medicated for oestrus control, is discussed.     

BOOK REVIEW

Book reviewed in this article.
Osteochondrosis in Domestic Animals . Edited by Sten-Erick Olsson, VMD, MD;     

Influence of thermal and mechanical treatment of animal feed on the true digestibility of amino acids. 1. True digestibility of amino acids in soy bean meals treated by varying heat]

Thermal treatment inactivates harmful components in some feedingstuffs such as extracted soy bean meal. The true digestibility of amino acids from untreated and heat-treated extracted soya bean meal had been determined in order to investigate the great variety of ways in which thermal treatment might affect food proteins, e.g. in producing a decomposition of inhibitors or damaging the amino acids. The trials were carried out with young pigs.     

药物饲料添加剂残留对生态环境影响的研究进展

综述了我国药物饲料添加剂的发展历史,概述了药物饲料添加剂残留对土壤生态、环境水体的影响,并对今后药物饲料添加剂的主要研究方向进行了展望。     

Effect of mass medication with antibiotics at feedlot entry on the health and growth rate of cattle destined for the Australian domestic market

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of mass medication with long acting antibiotics at feedlot entry on lot-fed Australian domestic cattle during a period of high risk for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). DESIGN: Systematic allocation at feedlot entry of tilmicosin, long acting oxytetracycline or no antibiotic treatment, to cattle lot fed for the Australian domestic market. Comparisons of growth rate, disease occurrence and mortality were made between the groups at the conclusion of the feeding period. RESULTS: Cattle medicated with tilmicosin at 10 mg/kg body weight on entry to the feedlot grew 0.08 kg/d faster than cattle medicated with oxytetracycline at 20 mg/kg body weight and non-medicated cattle. There was no significant difference in growth rate between oxytetracycline medicated cattle and cattle not medicated with antibiotic at feedlot entry. Cattle medicated with tilmicosin at feedlot entry had 8 fewer cases of disease per 100 animals compared with cattle not medicated with antibiotic at feedlot entry. There was no significant difference in disease occurrence between oxytetracycline medicated cattle and those not medicated with antibiotic at feedlot entry. CONCLUSION: Mass medication with tilmicosin at feedlot entry of cattle destined for the Australian domestic market may be used to reduce disease occurrence and increase growth rate during periods of high risk for BRD.     

银翘天甘含药血清制备工艺的优化

本研究通过单因素试验和响应面分析设计优化银翘天甘醇提物制剂含药血清的制备工艺,研究采血时间、给药次数及给药浓度对小鼠血清中绿原酸含量的影响。结果表明,银翘天甘醇提物制剂含药血清最佳制备工艺条件为:给药浓度为0.024 g/mL,给药4次,于最后一次给药后33 min采血。此条件下含药血清中绿原酸含量达到33.34μg/mL。     

奶牛场常用乳头药浴剂抑菌效果观察

采用平板细菌计数法对四个牛场奶牛乳头药浴前、后的细菌总数进行统计分析。结果显示A、B、C三个牛场乳头药浴前与药浴后的细菌总数差异极显著(P<0.05),D牛场乳头药浴前与药浴后的细菌总数无统计学差异(P>0.05)。表明A~C场奶牛乳头药浴剂效果较好,D场效果欠佳。此外,对培养的细菌进行革兰氏染色和镜检,结果显示主要有沙门氏菌、大肠杆菌、葡萄球菌和枯草芽孢杆菌,与文献报道相符。     

Clinico-haematological and mineral studies on experimental maduramicin toxicity in chickens

Clinico-haematological and mineral studies were carried out in experimental chickens given maduramicin medicated feed at 5 and 10 ppm for 21 days. Maduramicin medication in both medicated groups caused growth retardation. Clinical signs namely watery diarrhoea, depression, dullness and ruffled feathers were noticed in chickens from second week of the medication at 10 ppm but this effect was seen from third week in the birds given maduramicin at 5 ppm. Maduramicin medication caused significant reduction in haemoglobin in both the medicated group from day 14 and total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume in 10 ppm group on day 21. There was an increase in MCV in 10 ppm group on day 21 indicating macrocytic anaemia and decrease in mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in both the medicated groups indicating hypochromic anaemia. The leucopenia due to lymphopenia was observed in 10 ppm group on day 21. Maduramicin medication caused significant increase in serum Zn in 10 ppm group and decrease in Cu concentration in both the medicated groups from day 14. It is concluded that maduramicin caused toxic effects from day 14 in both the medicated groups.     

The effect of continuous in-feed medication with thiophanate on Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum spp. egg output in young pigs

The full potential of anthelmintics now available for single dose treatment is not achieved because the devising system for worm control in piglets/weaners is not efficiently applicable in practice. Therefore an in-feed medication programme for growing young pigs, allowing only one feed lot to be handled by the farmer, was tested in two studies. Study A Feed containing 0.0225% thiophanate was continuously fed almost ad lib. to piglets from birth right up to about 25 kg body weight when ready for fattening. This control measure effectively prevented A. suum and Oesophagostomum from becoming established during the whole pre-fattening period, thus allowing "worm-free" weaners to be produced. -33% of animals receiving unmedicated feed harboured mature Oesophagostomum already at an age of 63 days when first examined. Three out of 97 unmedicated pigs were then A. suum egg-count positive. At the same time all medicated pigs, except one with a low Oesophagostomum egg output, were egg-count negative. All medicated were still egg-count negative at 23-29 days after the withdrawal of the feed. About 30% of unmedicated pigs were then shedding eggs of A. suum and Oesophagostomum respectively. At 45-49 days after the withdrawal of the medicated feed 8% of previously medicated pigs and 43% of unmedicated pigs were A. suum egg-count positive. The corresponding figures for Oesophagostomum egg-count positive pigs were 6% and 40% respectively. The acquisition of worm infections by previously medicated pigs most probably was made in the fattening unit after the withdrawal of the thiophanate medicated feed. Study B In this study it was further substantiated that in-feed medication of pigs with thiophanate prevents A. suum from becoming established. All treated pigs were A. suum egg-count negative at Day 43 and 46 after the withdrawal of the medicated feed whereas about 62% of untreated control pigs were shedding A. suum eggs at the same time. This finding justify the proposal that the in-feed medication performed prevented larval migration. Furthermore it was shown that the in-feed medication must proceed right up to the transfer of piglets to the fattening unit in order to achieve its full potential. Farrowing pens may be heavily contaminated with infective Oesophagostomum larvae at the end of the pre-fattening period resulting in sudden and heavy nodular worm infections after the withdrawal of the medicated feed.     

Chemotherapy of caecal coccidiosis: efficacy of toltrazuril, sulphaquinoxaline/pyrimethamine and amprolium/ethopabate, given in drinking water, against field isolates of Eimeria tenella

Treatment with toltrazuril, sulphaquinoxaline/pyrimethamine and amprolium/ethopabate prevented mortality in chickens infected with field isolates of Eimeria tenella. Amprolium/ethopabate was the most effective drug in reducing lesions caused by the parasites. Few oocysts of E tenella were produced in birds medicated with sulphaquinoxaline/pyrimethamine or amprolium/ethopabate and none in those medicated with toltrazuril.     

The use of a morantel sustained release bolus in the seasonal control of parasitic gastroenteritis in second-season cattle

The efficacy of a morantel sustained release bolus was evaluated during the 1980 summer grazing season in 216 yearling, second-season cattle in nine trials in West Germany. In five trials individual farms were used, in which medicated and control groups could be grazed on adjacent pastures. In four additional trials medicated and control groups were maintained on separate farms where the sites and management practice were matched as far as possible. Faecal worm egg counts, herbage larval counts and weight gain were monitored at regular intervals throughout the season. The faecal output of gastrointestinal nematode eggs was reduced by 55.8 percent in the medicated animals during the period from May to early August, while worm egg counts were equal to that of the control animals during the later part of the season. Herbage larval counts were similar on pastures grazed by medicated and nonmedicated cattle. In the five trials where individual farms were used the average daily weight gains over the entire grazing period were 900 (+/- 222) g/animal/day in the medicated group compared with 826 (+/- 263) g/animal in the nonmedicated cattle, a non-significant advantage. No advantage for the treated over the control groups was detected in the additional 4 trials but this was attributed largely to the difficulty in obtaining comparable groups of animals in comparable grazing conditions in "matching" farms, leading to inter-farm variation.