Antiherpetic Drugs in Equine Medicine.

This study explores the use of antiherpetic drugs in treating different equine herpesviruses, focusing on the efficacy of drugs like valacyclovir and acyclovir, while noting the need for more research on other antiherpetic medications and their application in treating equine viral keratitis.

Objective of the Research

• The primary goal of the research is to explore the effectiveness of antiherpetic drugs in treating different types of equine herpesviruses since vaccination doesn’t always prevent the disease. The study also assesses the efficacy of the drugs both in practice and through in vitro experiments or studies using other species.

Use of Valacyclovir and Acyclovir

• The paper underscores the use of oral valacyclovir, which is frequently administered to adult horses to protect them from equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1), a virus that can lead to equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy in horses.
• In contrast, oral acyclovir is often used for treating EHV-5 infections and is instrumental in the therapy of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that can develop in horses suffering from this type of herpesvirus.

Need for Further Research on Other Antiviral Drugs

• The study highlights that though several other antiherpetic drugs show potential in treating equine herpesviruses, more research is needed to validate their effectiveness and determine their best applications.

Equine Viral Keratitis and Topical Drugs

• The research shows that various topical drugs are also used empirically in the treatment of equine viral keratitis, a corneal disease that can severely impact a horse’s sight, further emphasizing the need for additional research to find the most effective treatments for this and similar conditions.