Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Some pharmacological and toxicological properties of furazolidone

Veterinary Research Communications volume 6, pages 1–11 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

The pharmacological and toxicological properties of furazolidone have been briefly reviewed. Among the most important pharmacological actions of furazolidone is the inhibition of mono- and diamine oxidase activities, which seem to depend, at least in some species, on the presence of the gut flora. The drug also seems to interfere with the utilization of thiamin, which is probably instrumental in the production of anorexia and loss of body weight of the treated animals. Furazolidone is known to induce a condition of cardiomyopathy in turkeys, which could be used as a model to study ∝1-antitrypsin deficiency in man.

The drug is most toxic to ruminants. The toxic signs observed were of nervous nature. Experiments are in progress in this laboratory to try to explain the mechanism(s) by which this toxicity is brought about.

It is uncertain whether the use of furazolidone at the recommended therapeutic dose would result in drug residues in tissues of treated animals. This is a matter of public health importance as the drug has been shown to possess a carcinogenic activity. It is important that a simple and reliable method of identification and estimation of furazolidone residues be devised.

More work is needed to elucidate the mode of action and biochemical effects caused by the drug in both the host and the infective organisms.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Ali, B. H. (1981). Some effects of furazolidone in poultry. Ph.D. Thesis, Edinburgh University.

  • Ali, B. H. and Bartlet, A. L. (1979). Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by furazolidone in the chicken: influence of the alimentary flora. Br. J. Pharmac.,66, 491 P.

  • Ali, B. H. and Bartlet, A. L. (1980). Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by furazolidone and the influence of the alimentary flora thereon. Br. J. Pharmac.,71, 219–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali, B. H. and Bartlet, A. L. (1981). Some actions of furazolidone in poultry. Br. J. Pharmac.,72, 555 P.

  • Ali, B. H. and Bartlet, A. L. (1982). Inhibition of monoamine oxidase in chickens and ducklings by microbial metabolite of furazolidone. Q. J. exp. Physiol.67, 69–79.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ali, B. H. and Bartlet, A. L. (1982). Anorexia and antagonism to thiamin ubilization in furazolidone-treated poultry. Q. J. exp. Physiol. In press.

  • Anonymous (1976). Furazolidone (NF-180); Notice of opportunity for hearing on proposal to withdraw approval of certain new animal drug application. Fedral Register,41, 19907–19921.

  • Beckman, H. F. (1958). Microdetermination of the medicaments furazolidone and nitrogurazone. J. Agric.Fd. Chem.,6, 130–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borland, E. D. (1979). An incidence of suspected furazolidone toxicity, in pigs. Vet. Rec.,105, 169.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buzard, J. A., Vrablic, D. M. and Paul, M. F. (1956). Colorimetric determination of nitrofurazone and furazolidone in plasma. Antibiotics and Chemother.,6, 702–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1980). Disposition of furazolidone and its implication in monoamine oxidase inhibition. Dissert. Abstr. Intern.,40, 3687B.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee, S. N. and Ghosh, S. C. (1979). Mechanism of action of furazolidone: Inter-strand cross-linking in DNA and liquid holding recovery ofVibrio cholers calls. Indian J. Biochem. Biophys.,16, 125–130.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craft, J. C., Murphy, T. and Nelson, J. D. (1981). Furazolidone and Quinacrine. Comparative study of therapy for giardiasis in children. Am. J. Dis. Child.,135, 164–166.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Czarnecki, C. M. and Evanson, O. A. (1980). Distribution of myocardial glycogen in turkey poults during development of furazolidone-induced cardiomyopathy. Poult. Sci.,59, 1510–1514.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Czarnecki, C. M. and Evanson, O. A., m Powers, M. D., Grahn, D. A., and Good, A. L. (1981). Effect of furazolidone on plasma enzyme and protein levels in turkey poults. Poult. Sci.,60, 1537–1543.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Czarnecki, C. M., Jankus, E. F. and Hultgren, B. D. (1974). Effect of furazolidone on the development of cardiomyopathy in turkey poults. Avaian Dis.,18, 125–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Czarnecki, C. M., Reneau, J. K. and Jankus, E. F. (1975). Blood glucose and tissue glycogen levels in turkey poults with spontaneous round heart disease and furazolidone-induced cardiomyopathy. Avian Dis.,19, 773–780.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Czarnecki, C. M. and Sujarit, V. (1979). Effect of furazolidone in the early chick embryo. Poult. Sci.,58, 988–990.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dodd, M. C. and Stillman, W. B. (1944). Thein vitro bacteriostatic action of some simple furan derivatives. J. Pharmac. exp.Ther., 82, 11–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehlhardt, D. A., Beuring, G. and Haye, U. (1975). Effect of oral administration of furazolidone (Furoxon) on growth, haemoglobin level, packed cell volume and initial egg production in egg and meat-type replacement pullets. Arch. Geflugel.,39, 68–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eltayb, I. B. and Osman, O. H. (1975). Furazolidone-pethidine interaction in rabbits. Br. J. Pharmac.,55, 497–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ernst, G. F. and Van der Kaaden, A. (1981). High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of furazolidone in liver and kidney. J. Chromat.,198, 526–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gounot, A. M., Brevet, C. and Videz S. (1979). Les nitrofurannes. mecqnismes d'action. Ann. Pharm. Franc.,37, 421–428.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heotis, J. P., Mertz, J. L., Herrett, R. J., Diz, J. R., Van Hart, D. C. and Olivard, J. (1980). Specific programmed multiple development-thin layer chromatography of furazolidone in chicken, turkey, swine and ovine tissues: Collaborative study. J. Ass. Off. Anal. Chem.,63, 720–726.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, W. W. and Frezer, G. (1974). Chronic furazolidone poisoning in the calf. 2. Studies on bone marrow. Deut. Tier. Woch.,81, 53–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, W. W., Reinacher, M. and Dirkenson, G. (1977). Recent findings on the compatibility of furazolidone in calves. Deut. Tier. Woch.,84, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollifield, R. D. and Conklin, D. J. (1968). Method specific for the determination of furazolidone in urine: evidence for drug-related metablites. J. Pharm. Sci.,57, 325–329.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyashi, T., Yamane, O. and Sakai, M. (1976). Haematological and pathological observations of chronic furazolidone in calves. Jap. J. Vet. Sci.,38, 225–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D. and Robson, J. M. (1957). The action of furazolidone on pregnancy. J. Endocrin.,15, 355–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jankus, E. F., Noren, G. R. and Staley, N. A., (1972). Furazolidone-induced cardiac dilatation in turkeys. Avian Dis.,16, 958–961.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, L. S., Chang, C. H. and Washburn, K. W. (1975). Differential response in cardiomyopathy of chicks and turkeys to furazolidone toxicity. Avian Dis.,19, 596–602.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kale, O. O. (1981). Failure of furazolidone in the treatment of Onchocerciasis. Tropenmed. Parasit.,32, 29–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khomenko, V. S. (1977). Effect of nitrofurans on secretory and motile activity of the stomach (of calves and piglets). Veterinaryia, Moscow, U.S.S.R.,7, 90–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khomenko, V. S. (1979). Action of nitrofurans on the pancreas. Veterinaryiya, Moscow, U.S.S.R.,4, 55–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koeda, T., Sasaki, N., Kohanawa, M. and Konnon, S. (1976). Acute toxicity of furazolidone for G. pigs. Ann. Rep. Nat. Vet. Assay. Lab.,13, 23–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kriz, H., Bradna, F. and Svestka, O. (1968). The toxicity of furazolidone for ducks. Veterinarstvi,18, 178–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuznestov, O. N., Entin, G. M. and Kalina, O. M. (1973). Furazolidone — an active sensitizer to alcohol. Sovet. Med.,5, 104–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lammler, G. I., Sanger, P. H. and Wegerhof (1978). Chemotherapeutic studies onLitomosoides carinii infection ofMastomys natalensis. 7. The filaricidal activity of furazolidone. Tropenmed. parasit.29, 178–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Limaye, A. S. (1980). Comparison of Lomotil with Pectokab in furazolidone-treated infective diarrhoea.Curr. Ther. Res.,28, 80–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moursy, A. M. (1977). The physiopathological studies on toxicity of furoxon in ducks. J. Egypt. Vet. Med. Ass.,37, 99–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palm, D. D., Magnus, U., Grobecker, H. and Jonson, J. (1967). Hemmung der Monoaminoxydase durch bakteriostatisch Wirksame Nitrofuran-Derivative.Naunyn-schmiedeberg's Arch. Phrmacol. exp. Ther.,256, 281–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettinger, W. A. Soyangco, F. G. and Oates, J. A. (1968). Inhibition of monoamine oxidase in man by furazolidone. Clin. Pharmac. Ther.,2, 442–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radchuck, NIA. (1965). Toxic dose of furazolidone for chick, and hens. Materialy XIV Nauch. Konf. Leningrad Vet. Inst., PP 133–135.

  • Schaffer, S. W., Czarnecki, C. M., Cawthray, M. and Chovan, J. P. (1981). Cardiac taurine levals and sarcolemmal calcium binding activity in furazolidoneinduced cardiomyopathy. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.,69, 149–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sidorov, I. V. (1973). Effect of furazolidone on adrenal cortical function in the fowl. Trudy Mosk. Vet. Akad.,65, 64–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sidorov, I. V. and Luders, H. (1971). Untersuchungen des plasma corticosteron spegeles von kuken nach orale Applikation von Furazolidon. Dent. Tier. Woch.,78, 375–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, C. F., Rollinghoff, W., Preisig, R. and Fisher, M. J. (1979). Hepatitis, cardiomyopathy and haemodynamics in furazolidone-induced round heart disease of turkeys. Cand. J. Comp. Med.,43, 345–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staley, N. A., Noren, G. R., Bandt, C. M. and Sharp, H. L. (1978). Furazolidoneinduced cardiomyopathy in turkeys. Am. J. Path.,91, 531–541.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, I. V., Hollifield, R. D., Wilk, S. and Buzard, J. A. (1967). The antimonoamine oxidase effects of furazolidone. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther.,156, 492–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stryczcke, J. (1971). A case of Biofurazolidon poisoning of geese.Medycyna Wet. 27, 465–467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, E., Momose, A. and Yamamura, J. I. (1979). Determination of furazolidone in chicken tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography. J. Pharmac. Soc. Jap.,99, 862–864.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walia, S. K., Vadhera, D. and Chung, J. D. (1978). Inhibition ofStaphylococcus aureus lipase by furazolidone. Indian J. Path. Microbiol.,21, 337–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeung, T. C. and Goldman, P. (1981). Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by furazolidone in germfree rats. Biochem. Pharmac.,30, 2496–2497.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan

    B. H. Ali

Authors
  1. B. H. Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ali, B.H. Some pharmacological and toxicological properties of furazolidone. Vet Res Commun 6, 1–11 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02214890

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02214890

Keywords

search

Navigation