Search

The availability of GnRH agonist implants offers the possibility of a reversible, temporary downregulation of endocrine and germinative testicular function in male dogs and hobs. This review provides an overview of the registered indication, the induction of temporary infertility in healthy, intact, sexually mature male dogs (4.7 and 9.4 mg deslorelin) and hobs (9.4 mg deslorelin) as well as various off-label indications. Off-label use requires strict indications, informed consent from the owner and a lack of licensed medication (safe and optimum effect). Off-label indications in the male dog include sexual-hormone dependant (disturbing) behavior, benign prostatic hyperplasia, small adenomas of the hepatoid glands and alopecia X. Successful use of deslorelin implants for estrus suppression in jils, but also for the treatment of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets in general have been described. Similarly, hormonal castration can be induced in tomcats and queens. The variable time to onset of effect and its duration (extremely variable in some animals) represent a challenge for breeders. No (sufficient) contraceptive activity was identified in male rabbits and male guinea pigs; however, treatment did successfully suppress the estrus cycle in female individuals of these species, as well as reproductive activity in male and female rats. Regarding the use in birds and reptiles, significant species-specific differences exist with regard to efficacy, time until onset of effect and duration of downregulation. In birds, the implant is efficient to fully suppress egg laying in chicken, Japanese quail and psittacids. In doves, egg laying is only significantly reduced. Successful treatment of reproduction-associated (unwanted) behaviour patterns (feather picking, aggression) has also been described. In some male birds, namely zebrafinch and Japanese quail, the deslorelin implant is suitable to reduce testosterone levels. Successful treatment of hormone-dependent tumours (Sertoli-cell tumorus) in budgerigars has been described as well as the modulation of specific behavior in turkeys and an efficacy in facilitating their keeping (i. e. reduction of aggression). In reptiles, only the successful use of deslorelin in iguana has been demonstrated to date., Competing Interests: SGP hat Forschungsmittel zum Einsatz von Suprelorin®-Implantaten an verschiedenen Spezies/Geschlechtern von Virbac erhalten und Vorträge zur Thematik gehalten. Dennoch besteht kein persönlicher Interessenkonflikt, da nie Literaturarbeiten oder Studienergebnisse bzw. die Darstellung dieser beeinflusst wurden. Auch dieser Artikel ist frei und ohne Beeinflussung entstanden. SS hat keinen Interessenkonflikt., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of doxycycline application via drinking water in the treatment of chlamydiosis in infected, clinically ill flocks of racing and fancy pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) under field conditions., Material and Methods: In the scope of a field study, 13 pigeon flocks with clinically manifest ornithosis were treated over a period of 25 days with a novel doxycycline formulation via drinking water. Infection with Chlamydia psittaci had been confirmed beforehand by molecular-biological investigation of organ material from dissected pigeons in each flock. Therapeutic success was evaluated by PCR-analysis of triple swabs from 10 animals of each flock on day 25 of treatment and 7 days after completion of the therapy, as well as by repeated individual and daily herd examination., Results: The causative agent Chlamydia psittaci together with additionally documented atypical chlamydia species in six of the 13 flocks could thereby no longer be detected. Furthermore, a resolution of clinical symptoms was achieved in each of the treated pigeon flocks., Conclusion: Application of doxycycline in the described therapy regimen proved successful for the treatment of ornithosis. In addition, excellent acceptance and tolerance of the deployed formulation could be confirmed in praxis.

The clinical efficiacy of furazolidon for treatment of E. coli-induced gastro-intestinal infections in racing pigeons was investigated. 36 adult pigeons were treated with 2 different oral modes of application (capsule/drinking water) with a daily therapeutic dosage of 12.5 mg furazolidon/pigeon. The pigeons used for this study (Columba livia f. domestica) originated from conventional breeders and were housed in 3 different groups (control-, capsule- and powder-group) in different stables. After infection with an E. coli-strain (O150:H8) that proved to be pathogenic for pigeons, the animals developed clinical signs of disease within 2 days. After onset of disease the treatment with furazolidon for 5 days started. This phase was followed by an adspectory phase for 6 days. The negative identification of the E. coli O150:H8 was determined as main parameter for the clinical efficiacy of the treatment with furazolidon. This parameter showed a highly significant (p = 0.0001) difference between both groups treated with furazolidon and the control group. In both groups treated with furazolidon the E. coli strain could not be isolated after the end of the treatment. An improvement of clinical signs was seen 24 hours after treatment via capsule and 48 hours after treatment via drinking water formulation. The time difference might be caused by the high concentration of furazolidon in the capsules due to the single daily application. Considering the inaccurate dosing via drinking water that results from the varying drinking water intake in pigeons, the application by capsule should be prefered. Both furazolidon preparations proved to be effective in treating gastro-intestinal E. coli-infections in racing pigeons in a dosage of 12.5 mg/pigeon for 5 days, however, best results were obtained by application via capsule.

Ronidazol is often used in racing pigeons for the treatment of Trichomonas infections and diseases. Therefore, in this study, the compatibility of the drug was examined by oral application over 7 days. For this purpose a randomized blind study was performed using four different groups (control group, 10 mg = therapy-group, 20 mg = double-dose-group and 40 mg = high-dose-group) of pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) with 6 male and 6 female birds each. All birds were clinically healthy and between 6 and 12 weeks of age. The application of ronidazol at a dose of 10 mg/racing pigeon did show no side-effect within the duration of the study, e.g. no influence could be seen on clinical, haematological, blood-chemical and pathological parameters. Low-to middle-grade clinical alterations of the gastro-intestinal tract occurred in the high-dose group at day 6 and 7 of the application of the drug. Therefore a fourfold overdosing of ronidazol should be avoided.

Cases of swimmer's itch caused by cercariae of the genus Trichobilharzia have spread during the last years in Southwestern Germany and increased in intensity. The only consequence was to forbid swimming because no effective strategies are known which would be ecologically or financially acceptable. In this examination we therefore tried, by means of medication of ducks, the possible final hosts, to kill the different stages of Trichobilharzia in patency and prepatency in order to interrupt the parasitic cycle. For this the effectiveness of praziquantel on the parasitic stages in the final host (preadults, adults, eggs or fully developed miracidia) was tested in experimentally infected dwarf mallards (Anas platyrhynchos, hemerot.) and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos). During therapy of ducks with patent Trichobilharzia infection, onefold or twofold application of this drug (1 x 500 mg/duck, 1 x 300 mg/duck, 2 x 200 mg/duck) only prevented the releasing of eggs with hatchable miracidia for up to 24 h. Only a threefold application of 200 mg/duck in 24 h intervals led to a permanent reduction of detectable miracidia. Application of praziquantel in low doses (30 or 40 mg per duck and day) did not reduce the number of released miracidia. Medication with praziquantel led to a strong shift of adult worms located in the enteric veins of the ducks to the liver veins in a little as 3 h; examinations by scanning electron microscopy revealed changes in the worms' surface and damage of the tegument. During prepatency doses of 22.5 mg praziquantel per duck and day, given continuously for one week, were sufficient to completely stop the release of miracidia. In this low dosage, a special preparation of the bitter drug was voluntarily swallowed by the ducks, thus providing in principal a simple, cheap and ecologically sound method of controlling cercarial dermatitis.

It was the aim of the presented work to test Enrofloxacin under field conditions of compulsory prophylaxis and treatment of psittacosis, as JUNG (1993) had already demonstrated the effectiveness of this antibiotic against Chlamydia psittaci. During official quarantine 22 groups comprising 2536 birds were treated with Baytril. With suitable feed like steamed maize and a dose of 500 mg/kg Enrofloxacin the mean blood values ranged from 0.9 to 4.1 micrograms/ml within the different species. Application via drinking water can only be advised as an alternative in sick birds with reduced food intake. Duration of excretion (limit was the minimal inhibitory dose of Enrofloxacin with Chlamydia psittaci, 0.125 micrograms/ml was depending on the uptake of Enrofloxacin and correlated with serum levels. With mean serum levels of 1.0 micrograms/ml the minimal inhibitory dose for Chlamydia psittaci was attained in all birds after 14 days. The tissue concentrations measured in Patagonian conures surpassed serum levels several-fold, with the exception of brain tissue. Out of 22 quarantine groups only two were naturally infected with Chlamydia. One group of 196 Senegal parrots could only be cured from chlamydial infection after substituting their normal mixed feed with medicated maize containing 1000 mg/kg Enrofloxacin. In 50 per cent of the Salmonella infected groups Salmonella could again be grown from faecal samples after the end of treatment. For the treatment of psittacosis mean blood levels of 0.5 micrograms/ml are imperative and duration of treatment should not be below 14 days. Satisfactory hygienic conditions provided Baytril is a valuable therapeutic drug against psittacosis.

The present paper describes a previously unrecorded conjunctivitis of unknown etiology in the budgerigar. Clinical observation reveals close parallels with "cockatiel conjunctivitis". This disease of the cockatiel is often associated with respiratory symptoms. Clinical and pathological features, as well as therapy of the disease are discussed.

Since early 1986, fatal cases of Pasteurella multocida infection following cat bites have been seen regularly among avian patients at our institute. The problems of the epizootiology of this infection are discussed on the basis of research during the last three and a half years. By evaluation of collected data from clinical examinations, autopsies, bacteriological and biochemical diagnosis of isolated strains from birds and cats the possibility of transmission via cat bite is discussed as well as the status of cats and birds in an epizootic chain. Even birds with trivial wounds caused by cats must be classified as emergency patients. The risk of an infection after a cat bite is about 56%. For treatment of a Pasteurella multocida infection Doxycycline should be used.

The use of different antibiotics in psittacines is described. Among other aspects especially the anatomy of the bird and its consequence for the application of medicaments is taken into account. The use of antibiotics in psittacines often turns out to be difficult because of missing data about their pharmacokinetics, dosage, period of application and their compatibility. In order to deal with the increasing number of pet-birds in the veterinary practice, further examinations have to be conducted.