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Terbinafine hydrochloride (a white to off-white fine crystalline powder) is more than 20 years world-wide used synthetic allylamine derivative. Terbinafine is shown to be an effective antimycotic drug with a good safety profile. The mechanism of terbinafine antifungal activity is unidirectional in principle. Terbinafine hydrochloride is hypothesized to act by inhibiting squalene epoxidase, thus blocking the biosynthesis of ergosterol, an essential component of fungal cell membranes. After local application, terbinafine penetrates and accumulates in epidermis. It starts to act quickly and seems to be effective after few days of treatment. Pharmacokinetics studies in humans revealed that absorption after local application trough skin is about 5%. The absorbed dose undergo extensive liver metabolism and than is almost completely excreted by urinary system (80%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terbinafine as an antifungal drug was introduced to the world market in 1991, which was a great advance in dermatology. From that time to 1999, it was used orally with good results in over 10 million people and locally in over 30 million. It was first introduced to medical treatment in Poland in 1992. Terbinafine is an allylamine with broad antifungal activity. In low concentrations, it is fungicidal against skin fungi, molds and some dimorphic fungi. Against yeasts, it is fungicidal or fungistatic, depending on the species. It is usually used in the treatment of dermatophytosis, tinea versicolor and onychomycosis. It is believed to be the most effective against dermatophytes (Microsporum, Epidermophyton, and Trichophyton). Its main mode of action is to inhibit squalene epoxidase and thus inhibit ergosterol synthesis. The resulting ergosterol deficiency and the accumulation of squalene disturb the function of the cell membrane and the synthesis of the fungal cell wall. For Candida albicans, ergosterol deficiency is the major growth-inhibiting factor, and the filamentous form of this fungus was found to be more succeptible to terbinafine than the yeast form. Squalene epoxidase is not a cytochrome P-450 type enzyme, therefore its inhibitors have no potential inhibitory effect on this class of enzymes. Thus, terbinafine has no effect on the metabolism of other drugs. Treatment failure of fungal infections with terbinafine may be due to terbinafine resistance of the pathogens. Terbinafine hydrochloride creams are used to treat fungal infections such as fungal infections of the skin (tinea pedis, tinea pedis - tinea pedis, mycosis of skin folds, mycosis of smooth skin) caused by Trichophyton dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytophytes). verrucosum, Trichophyton violaceum), Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum, and yeast infections of the skin caused by the genus Candida (Candida albicans) and Pityrosporum orbiculare (also known as Malassezia furfur). Research is underway on new forms of terbinafine for the treatment of fungal infections in ophthalmology.

Terbinafine hydrochloride is more than 20 years world-wide used substance. Terbinafine is shown to be an effective antimycotic drug with a good safety profile. Its antifungal activity encompasses dermatophytes, yeasts, moulds and dimorphic fungi. Moreover, drug exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The total cure ratio is assessed to be 78-100% for dermatophytes. A little bit worse effectiveness is observed for the treatment of pityriasis versicolor and yeast skin infections. Terbinefine therapy is very well tolerated, there is an absence of any serious adverse reactions (allergic or irritating). In clinical trials, minimal adverse reactions like transient itching, stinging/burning, irritation or redness were recorded (at the site of application) in 1.8% patients who received terbinafine cream. No case of overdosage has been reported with local used terbinafine cream. There is no evidence of mutagenicity or genotoxicity reported either (in vitro and in vivo). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood’s lamp was invented in 1903 by American physicist, Robert W.Wood. The longwave ultraviolet (UV) light, has become an invaluable tool in medical practice. UV rays emission in Wood’s lamp is generated by a high-pressure mercury arc, fitted with a compounded filter, made of barium silicate with 9% nickel oxide. This filter is opaque to all light except for a band between 320 and 400 nm, with a peak at 365 nm. Wood’s light is used in veterinary medicine, predominantly in diagnostics of cutaneous fungal infections, especially those caused by dermatophytes. While its direct therapeutic uses are minimal, some recent applications have involved adjunctive roles in various treatments. The most important veterinary dermatophyte, emitting fluorescence in Wood’s lamp, is Microsporum canis. This review covers the physical basics of Wood’s lamp and its diagnostic applications. The myths, surrounding the use of Wood’s lamp are particularly highlighted, and their scientific explanations are presented. Finally, it appears that Wood’s lamp tests are still considered a valuable diagnostic tool in the management of dermatophytosis outbreaks in large groups of animals, e.g. in shelters. Due to its simplicity and low cost, this tool has not lost its popularity irrespective the passing of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims at the presentation an effective drug for treating dermatophytosis in small animal practice. Paradoxically, despite the progress in medicine, the prevalence of fungal infections is increasing from year to year. At the beginning of the third millennium, the practical therapeutic options are still very limited. Terbinafine is an allylamine drug introduced to the pharmaceutical market at the beginning of the 21st century. It works by inhibiting the squalene epoxidase enzyme in a non-competitive manner, i.e. by blocking the synthesis of 2,3-oxydosqualene, resulting in squalene accumulation and ergosterol depletion. Terbinafine reaches the stratum corneum and hair relatively quickly, mainly through secretion into sebum, and maintains high concentrations quite long after treatment discontinuation due to its strong adherence to keratin. Scientific reports indicate the high effectiveness of the drug in the treatment of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats. The recommended dosage of terbinafine is 30–40 mg/kg given with food every 24 hours, for 2–3 weeks. The drug is well tolerated and the reported adverse effects are rare and mild. Furthermore, no drug interactions with terbinafine have been described. These properties place terbinafine in the leading position for the preferred treatment of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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