[Online information system for -phytotherapy in animals]. / Online-Informationssystem für die Phytotherapie bei Tieren.

INTRODUCTION: Phytotherapy becomes increasingly popular in veterinary medicine. To fully exploit the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and ensure their safe use, knowledge about the effective plant parts and preparations is required. Improper use and overdosage of medicinal plants can be toxic. With www.phytoarznei.ch, we provide an online decision support aid that allows for the retrieval of currently available information on medicinal plants and their use in domestic animals. This decision support system is based on the available literature in the field, which after critical evaluation has been incorporated into a structured database. For each medicinal plant or drug, we have listed therapeutic indications, different application types, organoleptic properties, plant ingredients, pharmacological effects, dosages, duration of treatment, toxicity, legal frame for use in livestock and relevance for doping. A user-friendly access to all data is achieved by means of two search programs, either by entering the plant name or name of the drug in a search field or by selecting the desired animal species and therapeutic application from respective drop-down lists. This database on medicinal plant applications in animals is linked to the poisonous plant database of the University of Zurich and, for marketed preparations, to the Swiss compendium of veterinary medicinal products as well as to an index of related veterinary products.

INTRODUCTION: En médecine vétérinaire aussi, la phytothérapie devient de plus en plus populaire. Exploiter le potentiel thérapeutique des plantes médicinales et assurer leur utilisation en toute sécurité nécessite toutefois une connaissance particulière des parties de plantes ou des préparations efficaces. Une utilisation inappropriée et un surdosage de plantes médicinales peuvent être toxiques. C'est pourquoi nous avons créé un outil de prise de décision en ligne, www.phytoarznei.ch, qui permet un accès rapide aux connaissances actuelles sur les plantes médicinales et leur utilisation sur les animaux. Ce système d'information est basé sur la littérature spécialisée disponible qui a été incorporée, après une évaluation critique, dans une base de données structurée. Les indications thérapeutiques, les modes d'applications, les propriétés organoleptiques, les composants, les effets pharmacologiques, doses, la durée du traitement, la toxicité, les réglementations juridiques chez les animaux de rente ainsi que la pertinence en matière de dopage sont répertoriés pour chaque plante médicinale ou médicament à base de plantes. Deux programmes de recherche fournissent un accès convivial, soit par la saisie du nom de la plante, du nom du médicament ou des ingrédients de la plante dans une zone de recherche, soit en sélectionnant les espèces d'animaux souhaitées ainsi que l'utilisation thérapeutique dans des menus déroulants correspondants. Cette base de données des plantes médicinales est liée avec base de plantes toxiques de l'Université de Zurich et, si des produits finis correspondants sont disponibles, au Compendium des médicaments vétérinaires suisse ainsi qu'à un répertoire de produits vétérinaires.

[Diagnosis, therapy and prophylactic measures of parturient paresis in dairy cattle: results of an online survey for Swiss veterinarians]. / Diagnose, Therapie und prophylaktische Massnahmen der Gebärparese beim Rind: Ergebnisse der Online-Umfrage bei Schweizer Tierärzten.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to obtain the diagnostic, therapeutic and prophylactic approach among Swiss veterinary practitioners in cows with parturient hypocalcemia. All members of the Association for Ruminant Health were contacted per e-mail. The survey was completed by 108 (28%) of 393 that were contacted. According to the questionnaire responses, the typical presentation of a parturient paresis cow is a pluriparous middle-yielding dairy cow one day post-partum in sternal recumbency with normal consciousness. The diagnosis is usually based upon the medical history. Therapy of parturient paresis consists of mixed infusions (with calcium, phosphorus, magnesium or glucose) as well as oral preparations with calcium. The veterinarians estimate that 25-50% of the cows treated for parturient paresis need more than one treatment and that one case of parturient paresis costs CHF 200-300. Prophylactic treatments are usually used for cows, which have suffered from parturient paresis in the previous lactation, elder cows (≥ 3 lactations) as well as cows with a high body condition score (> 3.25). Prophylactic measures used by the veterinarians are vitamin D3 injections and oral preparations with calcium. They recommended a special diet, for example a low calcium diet ante-partum.

INTRODUCTION: Le but de la présente enquête en ligne était de relever les méthodes de diagnostic, de traitement et de prophylaxie utilisées en pratique en matière de parésie puerpérale hypocalcémique. Tous les membres de l'Association suisse pour la santé des ruminants ont été contactés par courriel. Sur les 393 questionnaires envoyés, 108 (28%) ont été remplis complètement et exploités. L'anamnèse typique est un animal pluripare avec une production de parésie puerpérale, il est mentionné des animaux pluripares avec une production laitière moyenne, incapables de se lever un jour après le vêlage et présentant un état de conscience normal. Le diagnostic est fréquemment posé sur la base de l'anamnèse. Les vaches laitières concernées sont traitées avec des perfusions mixtes (produits à base de calcium et de phosphore, parfois avec du magnésium et du glucose) et des préparations de calcium orales. Les vétérinaires estiment que 25 à 50% des vaches nécessitent plusieurs traitements et que les coûts totaux par animal de l'ordre de CHF 200 à 300. Du point de vue prophylactique, ce sont principalement les animaux ayant déjà souffert d'une parésie lors de la lactation précédente ainsi que les vaches plus âgées (3ème lactation et plus) et celles présentant un indice de condition élevé (> 3.25) qui sont traitées. Les vétérinaires utilisent pour cette prophylaxie des injections de vitamine D3 ainsi que des préparations orales de calcium et/ou conseillent aux propriétaires une alimentation pauvre en calcium ante partum.

[Phytotherapeutic treatments of gynecological diseases and fertility disorders in cattle - a veterinary historical analysis]. / Phytotherapeutische Behandlungen gynäkologischer Erkrankungen und Fruchtbarkeitsstörungen von Rindern ­ eine veterinärhistorische Analyse.

INTRODUCTION: Fertility problems are the main reasons for culling dairy cows. Diseases of the female genital tract are also often the cause of antibiotic or hormonal treatments in bovine practices. The use of medicinal plants could expand the available therapeutics. The aim of the work was to analyze historical literature before the introduction of antibiotics in veterinary reproductive medicine. Five books in German language, published in Germany and Switzerland between 1878 and 1921, and one handwritten therapy booklet by the rural veterinarian Carl Ammann-Honegger (1879-1960) were systematically examined regarding the descriptions (AW) on gynecological diseases. The herbal and additional ingredients of the recipe, the target animal species, the type of administration and the indication were recorded in detail for each AW. The six literature sources contained a total of 103 AW (79 administered orally, 13 locally, and 11 both orally and locally). Almost two thirds of the AW (61) were based on a mixture of different plants (two to seven plants), and one third of the AW (31) on a single plant. A total of 55 plants were recorded. The most frequently mentioned medical plants were plants of the genus Juniperus (J. communis L. (19 AW), J. sabina L. (13 AW)) and Linum usitatissimum L. (18 AW), Matricaria chamomilla L. (13 AW) and Gentiana lutea L. (12 AW). The treatment of the Retentio secundinarum was the most frequently mentioned indication (44 AW), followed by parturition preparation (17 AW) and endometritis treatment (15 AW). The most frequently recorded plants can be divided based on their ingredients and their effect into (a) energy- and protein-rich forage plants, (b) generally appetizing, digestive- and metabolism-enhancing plants, (c) medical plants with a specific gynecological organotrophic effect and (d) according to current knowledge, predominantly toxic plants. Besides the antimicrobial active immunity to defence against bacterial infections, a stable barrier funcion of the endometrium contributes to uterine health. The plants classified under (a) - (c) have at least the potential for a positive effect on the immune system and the endometrial barrier function and thus contribute indirectly to the uterine health.

INTRODUCTION: Les problèmes de fertilité sont les principales raisons de la mise à la réforme des vaches laitières. Les maladies de l'appareil génital femelle sont également souvent à l'origine de traitements antibiotiques ou hormonaux dans les pratiques bovines. L'utilisation de plantes médicinales pourrait élargir les thérapeutiques disponibles. L'objectif de ce travail était d'analyser la littérature historique avant l'introduction des antibiotiques en médecine de la reproduction vétérinaire. Cinq livres en langue allemande, publiés en Allemagne et en Suisse entre 1878 et 1921, et un livret thérapeutique écrit à la main par le vétérinaire rural Carl Ammann-Honegger (1879­1960) ont été systématiquement examinés en ce qui concerne les descriptions d'utilisation (AW) sur les maladies gynécologiques. Les herbes et les ingrédients supplémentaires de la recette, l'espèce animale cible, le type d'administration et l'indication ont été enregistrés en détail pour chaque AW. Les six sources de littérature contenaient un total de 103 AW (79 administrées par voie orale, 13 par voie locale et 11 par voie orale et locale). Près de deux tiers des AW (61) étaient basés sur un mélange de différentes plantes (deux à sept plantes), et un tiers des AW (31) sur une seule plante. Au total, 55 plantes ont été enregistrées. Les plantes médicinales les plus fréquemment mentionnées étaient les plantes du genre Juniperus (J. communis L. (19 AW), J. sabina L. (13 AW)) et Linum usitatissimum L. (18 AW), Matricaria chamomilla L. (13 AW) et Gentiana lutea L. (12 AW). Le traitement du Retentio secundinarum a été l>indication la plus fréquemment mentionnée (44 AW), suivie de la préparation à la parturition (17 AW) et du traitement de l>endométrite (15 AW). Les plantes les plus fréquemment enregistrées peuvent être divisées, en fonction de leurs composants et de leurs effets, en (a) plantes fourragères riches en énergie et en protéines, (b) plantes généralement appétissantes, favorisant la digestion et le métabolisme, (c) plantes médicinales ayant un effet organotropique gynécologique spécifique et (d) selon les connaissances actuelles, plantes principalement toxiques. Outre l'effet antimicrobien, une capacité de défense stable de l'endomètre contribue à la santé utérine. Les plantes classées sous (a) - (c) ont au moins le potentiel d'un effet positif sur le système immunitaire et la fonction de défense de l'endomètre et contribuent ainsi indirectement à la santé utérine.

[Effects of a two-year dairy herd health management programme on udder health, use of antibiotics and longevity]. / Auswirkungen einer zweijährigen Bestandesbetreuung von Milchviehbeständen hinsichtlich Eutergesundheit, Antibiotikaeinsatz und Nutzungsdauer.

Since 2003, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) is realizing a herd health management programme ("pro-Q" project) focussing on udder health. The objectives of the project are: (1) to reduce antibiotic mastitis treatments, (2) to optimise udder health and (3) to improve longevity, measured as averaged number of herd lactations. The farms get expert advice in prevention and treatment on herd- and animal-level. After 2 years, treatment recordings of the 65 investigated farms showed that antibiotic mastitis therapies were reduced from 38 to 26 treatments per 100 cows and year (equals a reduction of 32%). Lactation numbers of the herds increased significantly by 0.2 lactations from 3.3 to 3.5 lactations per cow. Udder health remained constant over all farms during 2 years: theoretical bulk milk cell counts averaged constantly at around 180000 cells/ml. Improvement of udder health on farm level was significantly influenced by higher somatic cell count when the project started and enhanced by farmer's motivation and farm-veterinarians' commitment to the project.

Implications of feed concentrate reduction in organic grassland-based dairy systems: a long-term on-farm study.

In response to increasing efforts for reducing concentrate inputs to organic dairy production in grassland-rich areas of Europe, a long-term study was conducted, which assessed the impacts of concentrate reductions on cows' performance, health, fertility and average herd age. In total, 42 Swiss commercial organic dairy cattle farms were monitored over 6 years ('Y0', 2008/09 until 'Y5', 2013/14). In comparison with overall data of Swiss herdbooks (including conventional and organic farms), the herds involved in the project had lower milk yields, similar milk solids, shorter calving intervals and higher average lactation numbers. During the first 3 project years farmers reduced the concentrate proportion (i.e. cereals, oilseeds and grain legumes) in the dairy cows' diets to varying degrees. In Y0, farms fed between 0% and 6% (dietary dry matter proportion per year) of concentrates. During the course of the study they changed the quantity of concentrates to voluntarily chosen degrees. Retrospectively, farms were clustered into five farm groups: Group '0-conc' (n=6 farms) already fed zero concentrates in Y0 and stayed at this level. Group 'Dec-to0' (n=11) reduced concentrates to 0 during the project period. Groups 'Dec-strong' (n=8) and 'Dec-slight' (n=12) decreased concentrate amounts by >50% and <50%, respectively. Group 'Const-conc' (n=5 farms) remained at the initial level of concentrates during the project. Milk recording data were summarised and analysed per farm and project year. Lactation number and calving intervals were obtained from the databases of the Swiss breeders' associations. Dietary concentrate amounts and records of veterinary treatments were obtained from the obligatory farm documentations. Data were analysed with GLMs. Daily milk yields differed significantly between farm groups already in Y0, being lowest in groups 0-conc (16.0 kg) and Dec-to0 (16.7 kg), and highest in groups Dec-slight (19.6 kg) and Const-conc (19.2 kg). Milk yield decreases across the years within groups were not significant, but urea contents in milk decreased significantly during the course of the project. Milk protein, somatic cell score, fat-protein ratio, average lactation number, calving interval and frequency of veterinary treatments did not differ by group and year. In conclusion, 5 years of concentrate reduction in low-input Swiss organic dairy farms, affected neither milk composition, nor fertility and veterinary treatments. Milk yields tended to decline, but at a low rate per saved kilogram of concentrate.

[Animal health in organic agriculture: new guidelines and perspectives for food animal practitioners]. / Tiergesundheit im biologischen Landbau: Neue Richtlinien und Perspektiven für die Nutztierpraxis.

In the last decade, the organic agriculture in Switzerland has been substantially increased due to the interest of consumer and financial incentives of the federation. Ruminants take directly or indirectly the largest part from grassland used within the organic managed surfaces. As the contacts between veterinary practice and organic agriculture has increased, the potential for veterinary activity in this area has developed considerably. The organic agriculture guidelines stipulate that all the preventive measures should be taken in feeding, keeping and breeding to insure animal health safety. This requires veterinary services for herd management. The organic status of a farm affects veterinary practice also in the form of alternative therapy/drugs administration and measures like dehorning and tail-docking. An important point in organic managed herds requests that treatment of animals should depend on alternative medical preparations or procedures based on veterinarian's experience and also on the therapeutic effect on the animal species concerned as well as on the disease. However, there are no restrictions on the veterinarian to use registered drugs as long as no alternative therapy, according to experience and possible success, is available to treat the animals. The prophylactic administration of allopathic veterinary drugs is not permissible. Further features in organic farms regarding the use of drugs are the keeping of withholding/withdrawal time, the documentation and the treatment frequency tolerated by organic marketing. Despite the above measures, the animal health has a priority regardless of its organic status. Although management of organic farms represent a unique responsibility, there are still obvious deficits in the education of veterinary practitioners for this new situation. However, in the future the extension of veterinary activity to include the alternative medical therapy should be regarded for the practitioner as a challenge and an opportunity at the same time.

Management factors affecting udder health and effects of a one year extension program in organic dairy herds.

The first part of this study was a cross-sectional analysis of the impact of 29 management factors on udder health in organic dairy farms in Switzerland. All 77 farms joined the extension program 'pro-Q'. As a measure of udder health the theoretical bulk milk somatic cell count (TBMSCC) calculated by the monthly cow composite somatic cell count over a time period of 1 year was chosen. The basic udder health of the farms was determined by TBMSCC during the year prior to the start of the project (mean for all farms = 176 460 cells/ml). In the multivariable analysis, the five factors 'swiss brown breed', 'alpine summer pasturing', 'calf feeding with milk from mastitis diseased cows', 'hard bedding' and 'no post-milking' remained as significant risk factors on udder health. In the second part of the study, the development of management factors and the udder health situation affected by an extension program after 1 year was investigated. A partial improvement of the management factors on the farms but no overall improvement on udder health and no association between management changes and udder health changes were found. Improvement of udder health was more likely in farms with higher basic TBMSCC than in those farms with less udder health problems at the beginning of the project.

The location of sensoric bronchoconstricting receptors in the upper airways.

The bronchoconstrictoric influence of allergen and acetylcholine aerosol was tested in 16 boxer dogs. The animals were exposed to these substances through a mask. The aerosol was also administered directly to three restricted areas of the trachea. Both substances induced a strong bronchoconstriction when administered through the mouth. Only the allergen showed a similar strong bronchoconstriction when administered to a restricted area in the upper third of the trachea.