according to the present invention , there is provided novel uses of selective neuraminidase inhibitors effective in shortening or stopping the pathophysiology of diseases involving one or more pathogens that require neuraminidase as a virulence factor . neuraminidases , ( also known as sialidases ) are known to those skilled in the art as enzymes that have been identified in many viruses , bacteria and eukaryotes that cleave sialic acid moieties and can be involved in many functions in vivo . it has been shown that neuraminidases can play a significant role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases , whose etiologic agents produce neuraminidase to cleave sialic acids in infected tissues to facilitate their ability to invade a host . it has been shown that there is a positive correlation between the level of production of sialidases and the virulence of various bacterial strains . this virulence is further enhanced by different bacteria being able to produce more than one sialidase . thus , many disease causing microorganisms possess a neuraminidase . one example of a neuraminidase inhibitor that has been approved for the treatment of human influenza , is oseltamivir ( tamiflu ®, f . hoffman - la roche , switzerland ) and zanamivir ( relenza ®, glaxo wellcome , inc ., hereinafter referred to an relenza ). oseltamivir is a synthetic sialic acid analog that has been modified at the c4 position . synthetic sialic acid analogs , such as oseltamivir have been demonstrated to inhibit the action of neuraminidases . since their introduction in 1999 , zanamivir and oseltamivir have been used successfully to treat human influenza a and b viral infections . in humans , neither zanamivir nor oseltamivir has been demonstrated to be effective in preventing serious influenza - related complications , such as bacterial or viral pneumonia or exacerbation of chronic diseases . development of viral resistance to zanamivir and oseltamivir during treatment has been identified but does not appear to be frequent . in some pathogens , including many enteric bacteria , neuraminidases typically are recognized as virulence factors . neuraminidases cleave terminal sialic acid residues from cell surface molecules such as glycoproteins and glycolipids . as a result of this cleavage , internal sugar residues can be exposed that are normally protected and not available to pathogens . neuraminidase activity can be particularly important for bacterial adhesion to mucosal surfaces . mucous typically is highly sialylated and can be a major component of innate mucosal immunity . in mucosal diseases , commensal bacteria are separated from epithelial cells by a mucous barrier . pathogenic bacteria have been shown to produce sialidases which can decrease the viscosity of the mucous and thus enable the bacteria to colonize on the epithelial cell membrane . once in contact with the epithelial cell , a pathogen can become attached . with bacterial colonization and proliferation , there can be detachment and depletion of immunoglobin iga . bacterial endotoxins and exotoxins can be released resulting in local and distant tissue damage . bacterial neuraminidases ( sialidases ) can cause the dissolution of the neuraminic acid located within the intercellular cement of the epithelial cells , allowing bacteria , their endotoxins , exotoxins and any environmental free sialic acid to enter the submucosa . according to the present invention , it is known to those skilled in the art , the mechanism of hydrolyses of sialic acid compound during neuraminidase inhibition and pathogens that use sialic acid , is fully described and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety ( vrim et al ., microbiology and molecular biology reviews , march 2004 , p . 132 - 153 ). a definitive role of neuraminidase activity in , for example , canine parvoviral infections , has not been established and it is thought that canine parvovirus does not have a neuraminidase in its genome . however , in one preferred embodiment of the present invention , it has been found that it is not essential for canine parvovirus to contain or utilize neuraminidases in order for them to enhance pathogenicity . neuraminidases have been known to demonstrate enhanced pathogenicity in a synergistic fashion in several viral and bacterial superinfections involving mucosal surfaces . in some cases , for example , pneumococcal pneumonia secondary to influenza , viral neuraminidase activity enhanced the adhesion of the bacteria to the mucosal surface that resulted in increased bacterial invasion into tissues and resistant bacterial superinfection . neuraminidases of bacterial origin alone are known as vitally important virulence factors . the present invention provides the use of neuraminidase inhibitor to treat diseases involving neuraminidase dependent bacteria . evidence to support this theory includes the following . it is known that the fulani pastoralists of rural nigeria prevented blackleg infections in their cattle by feeding them the stem bark from two plants ( tamarindus indicus and combreturn fragrans ). these plants contained neuraminidase inhibitors in their stem bark . blackleg is a lethal disease in cows caused by a neuraminidase dependent bacteria clostridium chauvoei . in one preferred embodiment of the present invention , it has been demonstrated that bacteria must be present in the disease causing microorganism , for example , parvovirus infection , to result in significant pathology . typically , germ free animals do not demonstrate any of the clinical disease that is seen in normal animals when they are challenged with virulent parvovirus strains . the pathology is thought to be attributed to septicemia and endotoxemia and is believed to originate from enteric bacteria . several enteric bacterial species are known to have neuraminidase activity including escherichia coli , campylobacterium , salmonella , shigella , staphylococcus and clostridium . from the list , at least two of these species , e . coli and clostridium , have been associated with morbidity and mortality in dogs with parvovirus . in addition , germ - free kittens and germ - free puppies when exposed to pathogenic strains of feline and canine parvovirus , did not develop any clinical signs . it is known to those skilled in the art that the commensal microflora of puppies contains neuraminidase dependent bacteria ( strep ., e . coli , staph ., clostridium , peptostreptococci , lactobacilli ). according to the present invention , it has been shown that e . coli and clostridium have been associated with morbidity and mortality in dogs with parvovirus . in addition , neuraminidases have been demonstrated to enhance pathogenicity in a synergistic fashion in some viral and bacterial superinfections involving mucosal surfaces . still further , the role of sialic acid metabolism in commensal and pathogenic strains of neuraminidase dependent bacteria provides support for the methods used in accordance with the present invention . further evidence supporting the role of neuraminidases in infectious diseases includes knowing that the histopathological lesions associated with canine parvoviral enteritis were typical of those created by bacterial septicemia and endotoxemia . in addition , most if not all of these commensal bacteria produce neuraminidase in order to provide sialic acid to use in their metabolic pathways . when canine parvovirus exits an infected gastrointestinal ( gi ) epithelial cell , sialic acid is released into the gi tract . the commensal bacteria begins to colonize and proliferate and produce their own neuraminidase . this excess neuraminidase can provide additional sialic acid and can also dissolve the neuraminic acid in intercellular cement providing a portal to submucosal tissue . in addition , neuraminidase can also displace epithelial cells &# 39 ; iga . interleukin - 8 is known as a cytokine produced by many cell types including endothelial cells , fibroblast , respiratory epithelial cells , macrophages and pmns . with the release of il - 8 , the pmns can mobilize intracellular sialidases that move to their cell membrane and causes the release of sialic acid from the membrane surface . the removal of sialic acid residues from the pmn &# 39 ; s cell membrane allows them to attach to the endotheial cell wall and move by diapedesis towards the tissues containing high levels of il - 8 . high levels of neuraminidase can also stimulate dendritic cells to interact with macraphages . both cd4 and cd8 lymphocytes can also be stimulated to produce th1 and th2 cytokines . thus , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention , canine and feline parvoviral enteritis is shown to be a superinfection ( requiring a virus + neuraminidase dependent bacteria living on a mucous substrate ). the pathology seen at necropsy is solely due to endo and exotoxins produced by the commensal bacteria turned pathogenic . in a preferred embodiment of the present invention , parvoenteritis is not known as a viral disease , but that the pathobiology is due to excess neuraminidase . thus , when a neuraminidase inhibitor like tamiflu is administered early in the course of the disease or as a prophylactic , one can prevent the production of neuraminidase ( sialidase ) and one can prevent the commensal bacteria from becoming pathogenic . in still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention , the neuraminidase inhibitors can be used to target neuraminidase dependent bacterial infections , superinfections , and coinfections and not dependent on viral neuraminidase . in one preferred embodiment of the present infection , “ superinfection ”, as used herein , means that an infection requires both virus and bacteria combined together to produce pathology more severe than either can alone . “ coinfection ”, as used herein , means two or more different bacterial strains together to produce pathology of a disease more severe than either can alone . as used herein , the term “ pathogen ” refers to a microbe producing one or more virulence factors of which neuraminidase is one of . according to the present invention , the difference between pathogen and commensal bacteria is that commensal bacteria are not producing neuraminidase as virulence factors . by the term “ animal ”, as used herein , can be any animal species , including a human being , who is infected with , or is likely to be infected with , microorganism producing disease , which are believed to be pathogenic . animal includes but is not limited to human beings , canine , feline , bovine , equine , avian , porcine and any other species known to those skilled in the art , for example , sheep goats and rabbits . the inhibitors of interest in this invention are neuraminidase dependent bacteria inhibitors . of particular interest are those which are specific for the neuraminidase enzyme . since many commensal and pathogenic bacteria also used environmental ( hosts ) sialic acids as sources of carbon , nitrogen , energy and amino sugars for cell wall synthesis , microbial sialic acid metabolism has been established as a virulence determinant in a range of infectious diseases . both commensal and pathogen bacteria have been known to modify their cell membranes with sialic acids in order to masquerade as “ self ” to avoid , obvert or inhibit host &# 39 ; s innate immunity . dehydration at the sialic acid reducing ends , leading to formation of a planar structure known as n - acetyl - 2 , 3 - didehydro - 2 - deoxyneuraminic acid ( diddeoxyneu5ac [ neu5ac2en ]. the flattened neu5ac2en ring mimics the transition state during hydrolysis of sialoglycoconjugates ( sia - o - acceptors ) by glycosylhydrolases designated sialidases ( synonymous with neuraminidase ). neu5ac2en is typically known as a sialidase or neuraminidase inhibitor . in particular , a preferred group of inhibitors are those neuraminidase inhibitors which are similar in structure to neu5ac2en . for example , neu5ac2en has been known to those skilled in the art , to serve as the lead compound for synthesis of one of the most well known sialidase inhibitor , zanamivir ( relenza ). most preferably , the neuraminidase inhibitors according to the present invention are those compounds that hydrolyze sialic acid . according to one embodiment of the present invention , an effective amount of compound , preferably a neuraminidase inhibitor can be administered to an animal . typically , when a parvovirus infected animal presents symptoms such as vomiting / nausea and pain , traditional treatment involves administering fluids and cortisone for shock , antibiotics therapy and medicine for pain . in addition , anti - emetics can be administered to help alleviate nausea and vomiting . the neuraminidase inhibitor can be administered in several ways : i ) at the start of or during the course of the neuraminidase dependent bacterial infection , or some part thereof ; or ii ) at the start of or during the course of a superinfection infection or some part thereof ; or iii ) at the start of or during the course of a coinfection or some part thereof . in addition , the inhibitor can be administered prior to the onset of a neuraminidase dependent bacterial infection , superinfection or coinfection , and preferably continued for some period during the course of the bacterial infection , superinfection or coinfection . in a most preferred embodiment of the present invention , the neuraminidase inhibitor can be administered during the entire , or part of the length of a bacterial infection , a superinfection or a co - infection . most preferably , the neuraminidase inhibitor is administered within 48 hours of onset of first clinical signs . by the term “ an effective amount ” is meant an amount of the compound in question which will in a majority of animals have either the effect that the disease caused by the pathogenic bacteria is cured or , if the substance has been given prophylactically , the effect that the disease is prevented from manifesting itself . the term “ an effective amount ” also implies that the substance is given in an amount which only causes mild or no adverse effects in the animal to whom it has been administered , or that the adverse effects may be tolerated from a medical and pharmaceutical point of view in the light of the severity of the disease for which the substance has been given . for the purposes of this invention , it is preferred to administer an effective amount of the neuraminidase inhibitor in an amount from about 0 . 6 mg / lb to 12 mg / lb , more preferably 0 . 3 mg / lb to 10 mg / lb , and most preferably 1 mg / lb of the active ingredient . too high a dose of neuraminidase inhibitor can be toxic . too low of a dose may not be effective enough to treat or prevent the neuraminidase dependent disease . the neuraminidase inhibitor can be administered by any route . the route of administration of the substance could be any conventional route of administration , i . e . oral , intravenous , intramuscular , intradermal , subcutaneous etc . a preferred formulation will be the oral route ; oral immediate release tablet or an oral controlled release tablet . for treatment of a disease caused by a microorganism , the neuraminidase inhibitor can be administered up to 6 times per day , though twice or once a day dosing regime is preferred . more preferably , 10 doses over a period of 5 days . most preferably , 6 doses over a period of 3 days or until the animal &# 39 ; s health improves . in yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention , for prevention of a disease caused by a microorganism , the neuraminidase inhibitor can be administered once a day for 5 days . typically , with animals infected with parvovirus , administering the neuraminidase inhibitor with the first dose will stop the vomiting . after the 2 nd dose , the diarrhea will cease . by the 6 th dose , most clinical signs of the infection will have ceased . in one preferred embodiment , a composition can be administered to an animal , the composition comprising a compound . the compound preferably is a selective neuraminidase inhibitor . more preferably , the compound is a neuraminidase inhibitor which is selective towards neuraminidase dependent bacteria . preferably , the neuraminidase inhibitor can be selected from the group consisting of zanamivir ( relenza ®, glaxo wellcome inc ), oseltamivir ( tamiflu ®, f . hoffmann la roche , switzerland ), rimantadine , rimantadine hydrochloride , amantadine , ribavirin and the like and any drug that are synthetic sialic acid analogs that can inhibit action of viral , bacterial and eukaryotic neuraminidases . most preferably , the compound is a neuraminidase inhibitor that is oseltamivir . oseltamivir ( tamiflu ®) is available from roche pharma ™ ag ( switzerland ). alternatively , oseltamivir can be prepared according to the methods described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 763 , 483 to bischofberger et al and u . s . pat . no . 5 , 866 , 601 to lew et al ., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference . while the administration of neuraminidase inhibitor as the sole compound of the composition is most preferred , one or more of these neuraminidase inhibitors can be combined with other compounds for treating bacterial infections , superinfections and coinfections . for example , a neuraminidase inhibitor could be co - administered with a treatment during the course of the neuraminidase dependent bacterial infection . examples of drugs that can also be used in combination with one or more other compounds without limitation , are anti - infective agents and / or other agents used to treat other acute or chronic ailments which include , antimicrobial compounds ( such as antibiotics ), antiviral compounds , anticancer compounds , vitamins , trace metal supplements , or ionic buffers designed to maintain or correct proper ionic balance in blood or other tissues , such drugs are alpha and beta interferon , inosine pranobex , moroxydine hydrochloride and the like . if antibiotics are used , preferably , the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of penicillins , benzylpenicillin , amoxycillin , ampicillin , cephalosporins , erythromycin and co - trimoxazole . appropriate dose ratio between a compound of the present invention and a second therapeutic compound for co - administration to an animal will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art . clearly , the combination therapies described herein are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit possibilities for other combination treatments or co - administration regimens . the following examples show the importance of neuraminidase dependent bacteria in mucosal infections in several animal species . neuraminidase dependent bacteria are those known to use sialiac acid ( neuraminic acid ) either as a source for carbon , nitrogen , energy and amino acids for cell wall synthesis . this microbial sialic acid metabolism is known to be a virulence factor in a number of infectious diseases . tables ( 9 - 14 ) representing specific diseases in the various species are included . table 2 represents a partial list of infectious diseases in veterinary medicine known to be superinfections . superinfections are those diseases requiring at least 2 different infectious microbes , that together produce a disease that neither are capable of doing alone . in these cases , one or more virus are associated with one or more neuraminidase dependent bacteria . feline parvovirus and upper respiratory complex and canine parvoviral enteritis and tracheobronchitis have proven to be responsive to neuraminidase inhibitors . there is no reason , the other superinfections will not respond in the same manner . table 3 represents 28 chihuahua dogs and puppies that experienced an outbreak of canine parvoviral enteritis within their kennel . the initial treatment lasted one week and was consistent with traditional therapy . ( iv fluids , antibiotics and antiemetics ). during the first week , 9 puppies died and a second veterinarian was consulted . the second veterinarian removed all iv treatment and started oral tamiflu and amoxidrops on 11 puppies . this treatment was administered by the kennel staff with the veterinarian consulting by phone . all puppies survived with the new protocol . the exposed dogs received 1 mg / lb of tamiflu once a day for 5 days . although exposed , these dogs remained healthy . table 4 represents of 25 cocker spaniel dogs and puppies that experienced an outbreak of canine parvoviral enteritis within their kennel . the initial treatment lasted one week and was consistent with traditional therapy consisting of iv fluids and antibiotics , antiemetics and steroids . during this period of time , 9 puppies died , and a second veterinarian was consulted . the second veterinarian removed all iv treatment and oral tamiflu and sulfadimethoxine / ormetoprim ( antibiotic ) were the only drugs administered to 11 of the puppies . the 12th puppy was taken to the veterinarian &# 39 ; s clinic and received iv therapy . those puppies remaining at the kennel were treated by the kennel staff . the exposed dogs received 1 mg / lb of tamiflu once a day for 5 days and did not develop canine parvoviral enteritis . raccoons represent the 5th species ( cow , dog , cat , mice ) in which a neuraminidase inhibitor has been successful in treating or preventing a disease associated with neuraminidase dependent bacteria . before using tamiflu , the hemorrhagic gastroenteritis ( parvo ) in raccoon was 100 % fatal . while the numbers are small they are significant as they prove the pathobiology seen in hemorrhagic gastroenteritis of raccoon is neuraminidase driven . treatment was administered by untrained lay personnel at the rehab centers . infectious canine tracheobronchitis ( ict ) or kennel cough is a highly infectious superinfection spread by aerosol droplets . the 3 holding kennels represent the first attempt at a herd health plan . the sick dogs were given tamiflu at 1 mg / lb am / pm for 5 days . they recovered in 3 - 5 days . those not showing clinical signs and any new puppy entering the kennel were given 1 mg / lb once a day for 5 days . this program reduced illness to below 5 percent , and cost of veterinary care by over 75 %. kennel cough outbreaks at greyhound racing tracks result in the tracks being closed . in miami , a total of 142 dogs became infected with ict . they were separated into 4 groups : group a , b and c received a different combination of antibiotic / cough suppressant . three dogs were given tamiflu at 1 mg / lb am / pm for 10 treatments . groups a , b and c &# 39 ; s clinical course was unchanged after 5 days of conventional therapy . started tamiflu , and dogs recovered in 3 - 5 days . the miami experiment was the basis for treatment during a similar ict outbreak at a kansas city track . cost of tamiflu was a factor during an itc outbreak in mobil , ala . they the dvm decided to give half the recommended dose ( 0 . 5 mg / lb ). the results were better than conventional , but longer than when the recommended dose is used . this trial demonstrates that the response is dose related . in table 16 , e . coli , a neuraminidase dependent bacteria , was cultured from ping a &# 39 ; s urine following an acute onset of vomiting and hematuria . she failed to respond to zeniquin , but had a dramatic reversal when tamiflu was started on nov . 24 , 2005 when she presented in an endotoxic condition . this case demonstrates the success of tamiflu in cases of e . coli enterotoxemia . the foregoing is merely illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed compounds . variations and changes which are obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope and nature of the invention which are defined in the appended claims .
the present invention relates to methods of decreasing the infectivity , morbidity and rate of mortality , in treating diseases associated with a variety of pathogenic organisms , specifically diseases involving one or more pathogens that require neuraminidase as a virulence factor . in addition , the present invention uses biology based therapy to treat neuraminidase dependent infections or diseases dependent on sialic acid metabolism .