Pharmacology and Preventative Medicine

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering immunity, vaccines, disinfection, antimicrobial agents, routes of administration, and related topics from the lecture notes.

What is passive immunity and is it immediate protection or long-lasting with memory?

Passive immunity provides immediate protection via transferred antibodies and has no immune memory; protection wanes over time.

What is active immunity and what are its memory characteristics?

Active immunity develops over time and is long-lasting with memory; attained through recovery from disease or vaccination.

Name three routes through which passive immunity can be transferred to neonates.

Transplacental transfer, transmammary transfer, and injection of preformed antibodies.

In the immunity scheme, which provides systemic (blood) immunity and which provides intestinal immunity?

Colostrum provides systemic immunity; prolonged milk intake protects the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal immunity).

Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) occurs more frequently in which neonates?

Premature neonates.

List some diseases associated with FPT in neonates.

Septicemia, septic arthritis, pneumonia, and enteritis.

What dam-related factors can lead to FPT?

Colostrum not formed or low antibody content; colostrum lost before parturition due to premature lactation.

What neonate-related factors can lead to FPT?

Colostrum not ingested or colostrum ingested but not absorbed.

Vaccines are categorized into two main groups based on the pathogen. What are they?

Viral vaccines and bacterial vaccines.

What genetic materials can viruses have, and what special group exists among RNA viruses?

Viruses can have DNA or RNA; retroviruses are a special group of RNA viruses.

What role do viral surface ligands play in infection?

Ligands on the virus surface recognize and bind receptors on host cells to allow entry.

What is an adjuvant in vaccines and what potential adverse effect can it cause?

An additive that enhances antigen–cell interactions; can cause localized inflammation or anaphylaxis.

What are the advantages of Modified Live Virus (MLV) vaccines?

Strong, long-lasting antigenic protection; fewer doses; fewer reactions; stimulates both humoral and cell-mediated immunity; no environmental shedding; better protective quality.

What are the disadvantages of Modified Live Virus (MLV) vaccines?

Less storage stability and potential mishandling; not as pure; may revert to virulent form; may shed into the environment; generally not given to pregnant animals.

What are the advantages of killed (inactivated) vaccines?

Antigenic; won’t replicate in the host; longer shelf life; can use in pregnant animals; no environmental shedding; safe in immunocompromised individuals; no contaminating pathogens.

What are the disadvantages of killed vaccines?

Shorter duration of immunity (primarily humoral); lower peak antibody titers; may require larger or more frequent doses.

What does a titer measure?

Antibody levels to document exposure to a specific antigen and immune response.

How do primary and secondary immune responses differ in terms of timing and antibody levels?

Primary response is slower with a modest antibody rise after first exposure; secondary response is faster with a higher and quicker antibody rise after a second exposure.

What is the goal of a Vaccination Program?

To implement a scheduled plan of vaccination to prevent disease in a population.

Name common disease control measures related to antimicrobial use.

Isolation/quarantine, depopulation, antimicrobial use, and environmental control.

Define decontamination and disinfection.

Decontamination = removal of organic material and cleaning; disinfection = elimination of pathogens using germicides.

List factors that influence the effectiveness of disinfectants.

Organic matter, type/number of microorganisms, contact time, physical factors, and environmental factors.

What are common categories of disinfectants?

Alcohols, Aldehydes, Acids/Alkalines, Halogens, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Chlorhexidine, and Phenolics.

What are key characteristics of alcohols as disinfectants?

Bactericidal; can damage equipment; rapid evaporation; act as solvents; must evaporate to be effective.

What are aldehydes used for and what are their major concerns?

Formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde; broad spectrum and sterilizing uses; formaldehyde is irritant and carcinogenic; glutaraldehyde is sporicidal when alkaline and used for medical equipment.

What are halogens used as disinfectants and what are their properties?

Iodines/Iodophors denature proteins and require prolonged contact; not sporicidal; chlorine is broad-spectrum and inexpensive but corrosive and inactivated by organic matter.

What are Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (quats) generally used for?

Disinfectants that interfere with microbial growth; used in surface disinfectants (e.g., Roccal-D Plus).

What is the role of chlorhexidine as an antiseptic?

Broad-spectrum antiseptic with activity reduced by organic matter; used externally on living tissues.

What are phenolics used for?

Environmental surface disinfectants (e.g., Lysol).

What does antimicrobial pharmacology encompass?

Destruction/damage of microbes; antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral; bactericidal vs bacteriostatic; selective toxicity.

List common disadvantages of antimicrobial use.

Toxic reactions or allergies; disruption of normal flora; cost; and development of resistance.

What is antimicrobial resistance and why is it a concern?

Microbes have specific spectra; resistance can arise through mutations or gene transfer; use of broad-spectrum or inappropriate therapy can promote resistance; combination therapy and stewardship can help prevent it.

Name the major antibacterial drug classes.

Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Aminoglycosides, Tetracyclines, Chloramphenicol, Macrolides, Lincosamides, Fluoroquinolones, Sulfonamides.

Give veterinary examples of Penicillins.

Penicillin G Procaine injectable; Amoxicillin capsules.

Name veterinary cephalosporins and a key regulatory note.

Ceftiofur products (e.g., Naxcel, Excede); regulatory emphasis on approved use and restrictions on extra-label use in food-producing species.

Give examples of Aminoglycosides used in animals.

Gentamicin, Amikacin, Streptomycin (injections/formulations for animals).

Name examples of Tetracyclines used in veterinary medicine.

Noromycin 300 LA (oxytetracycline); Doxycycline; Terramycin (oxytetracycline).

What are Macrolides and Lincosamides commonly used for in veterinary medicine?

Macrolides: erythromycin; tylosin (Tylan 200); Lincosamides: clindamycin; lincomycin.

Give examples of Fluoroquinolones in veterinary use.

Enrofloxacin (Baytril); Ciprofloxacin.

Name common Sulfonamides used in veterinary practice.

Sulfadimethoxine; Sulfamethoxazole with Trimethoprim; Sulfasalazine; Albon; Sustain bolus.

What is Clavamox and what does it comprise?

Amoxicillin combined with clavulanate potassium (β-lactamase inhibitor) for broader coverage.

Provide an antiviral example used in veterinary medicine.

Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A).

Name common antifungal agents used in veterinary medicine.

Miconazole; Ketoconazole; Clotrimazole; Amphotericin B.

Name common anthelmintics used in veterinary medicine.

Fenbendazole (Panacur); Pyrantel pamoate (Strongid Paste); Ivermectin paste.

Give examples of anti-inflammatory drugs used in veterinary medicine.

Dexamethasone; Kenalog-10 (triamcinolone acetonide); Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate); Banamine (flunixin meglumine).

List common routes of administration used in veterinary practice.

Oral (PO), Intravenous (IV), Intramuscular (IM), Intraperitoneal (IP), Subcutaneous (SC), Intradermal (ID), Intracardiac (IC).

What is the difference between intramuscular and subcutaneous injection sites?

IM deposits the drug into muscle; SC deposits the drug under the skin.