Faster treatment of exotic diseases of pets required
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is making arrangements to speed
up treatment for exotic veterinary diseases, as a result of increased
international movement of animals under the Pet Passport Scheme.
At a Veterinary Products Committee open forum in London last week, Dr
David Mackay, of the VMD, announced that the VMD was to hold stocks of
products for such diseases to speed up the granting of special treatment
authorisations (STAs), which allow import of a medicine licensed in another
country for specific cases.
The meeting heard that there have been several confirmed cases of animals
developing babesiosis and leishmaniasis, for which the appropriate antiprotozoal
therapies (imidocarb diproprionate and meglumine antimonite) have not
been available in the United Kingdom. Babesiosis is an acute disease that
requires rapid initiation of therapy, while leishmaniasis has zoonotic
implications that are magnified by any delay in initiating therapy.
In response to a question on the regulatory status of coccidiostats,
the meeting heard that these are considered medicines rather than feed
additives. Prudent use is recommended to avoid the development of resistance.
— From Dr Steven Kayne.
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