EFFICIENCY OF APPLICATION OF THE DRUG "HEPTRAL-VET" IN THE COMPLEX TREATMENT OF DOGS WITH ACUTE COURSE OF PYROPLASMOSIS

The article presents the results of clinical trials of the drug, the active substance of which is ademethionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate (ademethionine salt), on dogs with an acute course of piroplasmosis. The drug is one of hepatoprotectors designed to normalize the morpho-functional state of the liver and metabolic processes in the body. It should be noted that hepatoprotectors don’t affect the cause of the disease, but the pathogenesis. Ademethionine is a natural amino acid, which is present in all body tissues and fluids. It acts as a coenzyme and methyl group donor in transmethylation reactions, is a precursor in the formation of physiological sulfurated (thiol) compounds (cysteine, taurine, glutathione, coenzyme A, etc.) in transsulfurization reactions. 
Due to the restoration of the synthesis of glutathione, phosphatidylcholine and taurine, ademethionine provides antioxidant and detoxification effects, restores the structure of hepatocyte membranes and promotes the removal of toxic bile acids. 
According to the system of preclinical and clinical testing of veterinary medicinal products, which meets international requirements and is the main guarantee for the development of effective, safe and competitive drugs, we conducted clinical studies of the hepatoprotective drug "HEPTRAL-VET", manufactured by "BIOTESTLAB" LLC, the active ingredient of which is ademethionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate, on dogs with an acute piroplasmosis, in order to study its hepatoprotective and detoxifying action. 
According to the results of clinical examinations of dogs by doctors of veterinary clinics in Lviv and blood laboratory tests 8 animals were selected with signs of acute pyroplasmosis. After specific therapy, the animals were administered intravenously the drug "Heptral-vet" at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight once a day for 3-6 days, depending on the clinical state of animals. 
Before the treatment of animals, a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin, the number of erythrocytes and the value of hematocrit, an increase of ESR, in leucoformula – an increase in the number of rod-nuclear neutrophils and a decrease in the number of lymphocytes were revealed in their blood. From the biochemical indicators – a decrease in the concentration of total protein, an increase in the content of total bilirubin, and a significant increase in the activity of liver transaminases were established. 
On the 7th day after the treatment, hematological studies have established an increase in the concentration of hemoglobin, the number of erythrocytes, value of hematocrit, a decrease in ESR and the number of rod-nuclear neutrophils, compared to the initial values. At the same time, biochemical studies of blood serum established a tendency to increase the content of total protein and albumin, decrease the content of bilirubin against the background of normalization of enzyme activity. The increase in the content of urea and creatinine in the dog’s blood serum occurred within the physiological norm. Thus, during this period, we observed the recovery of the dogs' bodies after disease. According to the observations of treating doctors, the drug "HEPTRAL-VET" contributed to the faster recovery of dogs, the normalization of their physiological indicators, and was well tolerated by animals.