Antivirals are used to treat viral infections. This drug is helpful in preventing the spread of Pacheco s disease and assists in the treatment of infected birds. Antifungals are used to combat fungal diseases. Only a few in this class are commonly used, and much like the antivirals, more antifungal drugs are needed. The type of fungus present and its location in the patient dictates which drug we will employ, since some of the drugs are systemic and others are not.
Antiprotozoals are another category in which much work is needed to find new and improved drugs.
This class is used to treat mainly Giardia , Trichomonas , and Coccidia infections. This class is highly specialized and a definitive diagnosis must exist before selection can be made. So, you see that just understanding the basics of rational drug therapy is quite an undertaking. The next series of articles will examine each class separately and look at drugs from each in detail, so stay tuned. All rights, both printed and electronic, reserved.