Sarathchandra Ghadevaru
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Toxicol
V eterinary pharmacovigilance monitors the safety of veterinary medicines, including vaccines (VAC) used for the prophylaxis, diagnosis or treatment of diseases in animals once they reach the market after authorization. In India, there is no present government policy to survey and evaluate adverse drug events (ADEs) / Pharmacovigilance programme for veterinary medicines. Therefore, essential information such as frequency, severity of treated animal ADEs and reliable data about frequent ADE-producing drugs remains unknown. The objective of the study was to assess and communicate risks and benefits in the market ultimately to educate the veterinarians and the stake holders on the safety and efficacy of veterinary drugs and biologicals. A 12-month period pilot study was conducted to monitor the ADE for frequently used drugs (labeled/extra labeled drugs). A survey protocol consisting of a questionnaire about used drugs in livestock was developed; the questionnaire was distributed to 300 veterinarians of Tamil Nadu state. The veterinarians were instructed to voluntarily report on the various types of drugs used and the ADEs, if any observed. More than 37% ADEs were related to anti-microbials, anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory agents. A further 27% of ADEs were due to vitamins and feed additives. Two cases of ADEs were observed in FMD vaccination, in cattle and canine Parvo vaccine in dogs. In poultry, tiamulin and salinomycin ADEs induced serious mortality. The present study warrants for the need of sustained veterinary pharmacovigilance programmes in livestock for timely ADEs presenting drug detections and drug safety improvement
Sarathchandra Ghadevaru is Professor and Head, Pharmacovigilance Laboratory for Animal Feed and Food Safety in the Directorate of Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India. His Doctoral programme elicited the toxicodynamics/mode of action and antidotes to combat one of the common suicidal and homicidal phytotoxin ( Cleistanthus collinus ) very frequently encountered in malicious poisoning of cattle as suitable model for alternative to animal toxicity. He established a National facility ? Pharmacovigilance Laboratory for Animal Feed and Food Safety as per FDA/EU norms. He was the first veterinarian to be Certified as NABL Assessor for 17025 Laboratory Accreditation. He received many honors and awards and has obtained Grants -DST/ APED. His area of specialization is Veterinary Diagnostic and Regulatory Toxicology.
