Week 4- GI therapeutics 2

Question 1

What are some approaches that can be used to tempt eating?

Answer 1

• Wet food
• Warm food
• Small portions
• Wide, Shallow bowls
• Hand feeding

Question 2

What is mirtazapine?

Answer 2

• noradrenaline and serotonergic antagonist with an appetite stimulant
• effects usually take up to 30 minutes

Question 3

What is cyproheptadine?

Answer 3

• non-selective serotonergic antagonist
• can take up to 24 hours to be effective

Question 4

What is capromelin?

Answer 4

ghrelin agonist

Question 5

Name four appetite stimulants

Answer 5

1. mirtazapine
2. cyproheptadine
3. diazepam
4. capromorelin

Question 6

What is the metronidazole bacteriocidal used for?

Answer 6

• bacteriocidal for gram +/ gram - anaerobes
• inhibits nucleic acid function by preventing DNA repair
• antiprotozoal at high doses
• modulates the immune system

Question 7

What does HGE cause?

Answer 7

• peracute onset of bloody diarrhoea and vomiting

Question 8

How might you diagnose HGE?

Answer 8

compatible clinical signs (haemoconcentration and
normal TP) and exclusion of other causes e.g. Addison’s disease,
parvoviral enteritis, intussusception, pancreatitis
* There is typically haemoconcentration with normal plasma
proteins.

Question 9

How might you treat HGE?

Answer 9

• IV fluids
• anti-emetics
• antibiotics

Question 10

How do benzimidazoles work?

Answer 10

• Group 1
• they bind to parasite tubulin
• inhibition of glucose uptake, glycogen depletion and death
• effectives against nematodes, cestodes and giardia

Question 11

What is the mode of action of benzimidazoles?

Answer 11

Kill worms slowly, prolonged exposure increases efficacy
* Ruminants/equids more sensitive than carnivores –
rumen/caecum acts as reservoir

Question 12

What is fenbendazole?

Answer 12

is safe for puppies and kittens and lactating
bitches/queens

Question 13

What is triclabendazole?

Answer 13

differs from other benzimidazoles in that it is a
narrow spectrum anthelmintic.
* Accumulates in both immature and adult stages of
Fasciola hepatica

Question 14

What is the only drug effective against immature fluke?

Answer 14

triclabendazole

Question 15

What are nicotinic agonists?

Answer 15

• Group 2
• act at nicotinic ACh receptors (ion
  channels) and cause a rapid and reversible spastic paralysis.
  The following classes are selective for nematode muscles
• Imidazothiazoles – include levamisole
• Tetrahydropyrimidines – include pyrantel

Question 16

What is a macrocyclic lactone?

Answer 16

• Group 3 drug
• Derived from compounds produced by streptomyces fungi
• Avermectins
• Milbemycins

Question 17

What is the mode of action of macrocyclic lactones?

Answer 17

Open invertebrate specific glutamate-chloride channels in postsynaptic membrane (nematodes but not cestodes) leading to
hyperpolarisation, flaccid paralysis and death
* Persistent activity used for preventative worm strategies

Question 18

What is praziquantel?

Answer 18

causes severe damage to the parasite
integument, resulting in tetanic muscular contraction and
paralysis. Mechanism unproven but thought to be related to
changes in divalent cation fluxes, especially Ca+

Question 19

What is the function of trimethoprim?

Answer 19

inhibits
folate synthesis (and purine synthesis

anti-protozoal agent

Question 20

What is toltrazuril?

Answer 20

anticoccidial active against Eimeria spp.
Affects the fine structure of the developmental stages of
coccidia