ANTINEMATODAL DRUGS

C. LANUSSE, L. ALVAREZ, J SALLOVITZ, L. MOTTIER, SF.SANCHEZ BRUNI

Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Wiley-Blackwell

Lugar: Iowa; Año: 2009; p. 1053 - 1094

The economic importance of helminth infections in livestock has long been recognized and it is probable for this reason that the most important advances in the chemotherapy of helminthiasis have come from the animal health area (Horton 1990). Anthelmintics are used in all animal species and man. A significant part of the economic impact of parasitism in animal production is represented by the investment in control measures. Although alternative methods have been developed, chemically-based treatments are the most important tool to control parasitism. A more complete understanding of the pharmacological properties of existing antiparasitic drugs should assist with more efficient parasite control both in livestock and companion animals. The development of highly efficient analytical techniques to quantify drug/metabolites concentrations in various host tissues and target parasites has significantly contributed to understand the pharmacokinetic and metabolic features of the available anthelmintic drugs. Unfortunately, the investment in control measures does not always result in the expected therapeutic success.