Research topics
The current fields of scientific investigation of the Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology unit include:
- pharmacological and toxicological properties of natural substances or products with potential application for treatment and/or prevention of disease conditions affecting animal species of veterinary interest;
- molecular and cellular events of the innate immune response in the context of common diseases of veterinary animal species (e.g.: laminitis, asthma, mastitis, IBD, leishmaniasis), with the aim to identify and characterize targets for pharmacological action and/or potential biomarkers;
- pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic behaviour of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in minor species, with the aim to optimize treatment protocols;
- pharmacokinetic behaviour of non steroidal antinflammatory drugs and chemotherapics in wild and exotic species, with particular attention to marine turtles and raptors;
- ecotoxicology applied to the Mediterranean environment: pollution by heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Cu, Hg and new platinum-like series) in Apulian and Lucan habitats using wild species as bioindicators;
- evaluation of environmental spread of antibiotic resistance using bacteria isolated from aquatic and terrestrial wild animal species;
- evaluation of mechanisms of resistance to ectocides in parasites of food producing animals.