Efficacy of ketoprofen administered in drinking water at a low dose for the treatment of porcine respiratory disease complex

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an oral solution of ketoprofen administered in drinking water at a lower dose as a complement to antimicrobial therapy in a mild outbreak of porcine respiratory disease complex. The study was performed with 120 pigs with rectal temperature between 39.9 and 41°C and at least 1 sign indicating porcine respiratory disease complex (dyspnea, cough, nasal discharge, or depression). Animals were randomly allocated in 2 groups (treated and control group). Animals in both groups received etiological therapy with doxycycline at 10 mg · kg(-1) in drinking water for 5 d. The animals in the treated group also received 1.5 mg · kg(-1) of ketoprofen during the first 3 d. The reduction in rectal temperature in the treated group was significantly greater during the days of ketoprofen administration and up to 1 d after the end of treatment (P < 0.05). The percentage of dyspneic animals was significantly less (P < 0.05) in the treated group from d 2 to 5 of the study. Also, a significant improvement regarding depression and cough was seen in the animals of the treated group. No statistically significant (P > 0.05) differences were evidenced in productive variables. In conclusion, oral treatment with ketoprofen at 1.5 mg · kg(-1) in combination with antimicrobial therapy was found to be a clinically effective approach in outbreaks of mild porcine respiratory disease complex.

Multicentre, controlled, randomised and blinded field study comparing efficacy of suxibuzone and phenylbutazone in lame horses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

In horses, it has been demonstrated that suxibuzone (SBZ) has a lower gastric ulcerogenic effect than phenylbutazone (PBZ). However, no field trials have been reported comparing the efficacy of the drugs in alleviating lameness.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the therapeutic effect of SBZ to that of PBZ when administered orally in lame horses. Acceptability of both products was also compared.

METHODS

Lame horses (n = 155) were used in a multicentre, controlled, randomised and double-blinded clinical trial. Horses were treated orally with either SBZ or PBZ at equivalent therapeutic dosages. PBZ was given to 79 horses at a dose of 4.4 mg/kg bwt/12 h for 2 days, followed by 2.2 mg/kg bwt/12 h for 6 days. SBZ was given to 76 horses at 6.6 mg/kg bwt/12 h for 2 days, followed by 3.3 mg/kg bwt/ 12 h for 6 days. Efficacy of treatments was evaluated by clinicians in equine practices according to lameness progression throughout the study. Product ingestion was checked daily to evaluate product acceptability.

RESULTS

Although SBZ showed a statistically significant tendency to have a better efficacy than PBZ (Odds ratio = 2.7; P = 0.016), significance dissipated once the analysis was adjusted for some imbalanced baseline covariates, confirming that they were actually related to the apparent advantage of SBZ over PBZ. Product acceptability was significantly higher in the SBZ group than in the PBZ group (96.1% vs. 77.2%; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SBZ and PBZ did not show significant differences in alleviating lameness in horses. However, SBZ had better product acceptability when administered orally with some food.

POTENTIAL RELEVANCE

SBZ is a good therapeutic alternative to PBZ in horses since there is no significant difference in alleviating lameness between the 2 therapies.

In vitro investigation of ceruminolytic activity of various otic cleansers for veterinary use

Knowledge of the ceruminolytic activity of commercially available ear cleansing products assists the practitioner to choose the best available product for specific clinical situations. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the ceruminolytic activity of commercially available canine ear cleansers. For this purpose, the ceruminolytic activity of 13 ear cleansers was evaluated using a standardized synthetic cerumen (SSC) that mimics the composition and texture of canine cerumen. The test products were incubated with mild agitation for 20 min with 500 mg of SSC previously compacted at the bottom of a test tube. Ceruminolytic activity was then assessed by quantifying the SSC removed by decantation. This procedure was repeated five consecutive times on each tube simulating repeated applications in the canine ear canal. Good repeatability among replicates was found in this assay, allowing direct comparisons between products. The final percentage of SSC elimination ranged from none (similar to water), between 8 and 39% for three products and up to 90% for one product (P<0.001). It is concluded that, in the experimental conditions used in this study, only 1/13 products had significant ceruminolytic activity.

Assessment of a platelet function analyser in horses: reference range and influence of a platelet aggregation inhibitor

The objective of this study was to assess whether a new human platelet function analyser (the PFA-100) could be used to evaluate platelet function in horses and detect acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced platelet dysfunctions. Citrated blood samples from 40 healthy horses were processed to obtain reference values for closure time (CT) using cartridges with collagen-ADP (CT-ADP) and collagen-epinephrine (CT-EPI) as platelet agonists. In addition, CT-ADP and CT-EPI were also measured before and 24 h after oral ASA administration in another 12 healthy horses. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were also determined. In normal horses, means+/-SD value for CT-ADP was 85.1+/-13.1 s (median, 82 s), and CT-EPI ranged from 158 to >300 s (median 291 s). Calculated reference ranges were 60.5-115.9 s and 158.5->300 s for CT-ADP and CT-EPI, respectively. Administration of ASA significantly (P<0.001) prolonged CT-ADP values from 91.0+/-13 to 113.5+/-14.4 s, and CT-EPI values were also significantly (P<0.008) prolonged after ASA administration. Sensitivity and specificity results for ADP cartridges showed that a prolonged CT value would be highly suggestive of a platelet aggregation inhibition. In conclusion, ADP cartridges can be used in horses to assess primary haemostasis and may be a valuable test for the detection of platelet aggregation inhibition.

Lower gastric ulcerogenic effect of suxibuzone compared to phenylbutazone when administered orally to horses

The objective was to compare the gastrointestinal and general toxicity of suxibuzone (SBZ) to that of phenylbutazone (PBZ) when administered orally in horses. Fifteen healthy horses were allocated to three treatment groups. One group received a high dose of PBZ for two weeks; the second group was given an equimolecular dosage of SBZ; and a third group received placebo. Horses were daily monitored, and blood samples were collected before and during the study. On day 18, complete post-mortem examinations were performed. One horse treated with PBZ showed clinical signs of NSAID toxicosis. Small oral ulcers were also detected in other two horses from the PBZ group and in two horses from the SBZ group. There were no statistical differences in the blood parameters among groups. Ulcers in the stomach's glandular mucosa were observed in all horses of the PBZ group, while only two horses of the SBZ group showed ulcerations. PBZ horses had a significant higher ulcerated area, and gastric ulcers were significantly deeper than those in the SBZ and placebo groups. No other lesions were found in any other tissue. In conclusion, SBZ causes significantly lower gastric ulcerogenic effect than PBZ when administered orally at equimolecular doses in horses.

Electrolyte vs. glucose-electrolyte isotonic solutions for oral rehydration therapy in horses

An isotonic electrolyte solution with a composition similar to equine sweat was compared to an isotonic glucose-glycine-electrolyte solution for oral rehydration therapy in exercising horses. Ten horses were dehydrated by using frusemide and allocated randomly to receive 4 different oral solutions: isotonic sweat-like electrolyte solution, half-strength hypotonic electrolyte solution, isotonic glucose-glycine-electrolyte solution, and plain water. Solutions were given by nasogastric tube using the same volume as the bodyweight lost by each horse. Blood samples were collected before and throughout 6 h of the rehydration period. Results showed that all solutions recovered pre-frusemide values of packed cell volume (PCV) and total plasma protein (TP) in a similar fashion. No changes for Na+ values were observed during the rehydration period when the isotonic sweat-like solution was used. However, a significant hyponatraemia was induced throughout rehydration when the other 3 solutions were given, especially when hypotonic solution and water were used. Osmolality values did not change when both isotonic solutions were administered; but a significant hypotonicity was observed when hypotonic solution and water were given. When the isotonic sweat-like solution was used, plasma Cl-, K+ and creatinine values recovered to premedication values significantly faster than the other 3 solutions. In conclusion, the isotonic sweat-like electrolyte was the best solution because it restored rapidly the fluid and plasma electrolyte imbalances. In contrast, the isotonic glucose-glycine-electrolyte solution impaired the plasma electrolyte imbalances.

Prevention of immunologic stress contributes to the growth-permitting ability of dietary antibiotics in chicks

The growth-permitting ability of antibiotics fed to broiler chicks was studied as it relates to the state of activation of the immune system. In Experiment 1, chicks were fed two levels of antibiotics (0 or 100 mg streptomycin + 100 mg penicillin/kg diet) and were raised either in an environment with poor sanitation to create a chronic immune stress or in a clean environment. Chicks raised in the unsanitary environment and not fed antibiotics had significantly lower (P < 0.05) rates of weight gain and efficiencies of feed utilization, and higher levels of plasma interleukin-1, compared with chicks raised in the clean environment or chicks raised in the unsanitary environment and fed antibiotics. Adding antibiotics to the diet of birds in the clean environment did not affect any variable. In Experiment 2, chicks were raised in a conventional environment and fed two levels of an antibiotic (0 or 100 mg tetracycline/kg diet). After a 15-d feeding period, half of the chicks were injected with Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide to create an acute immunologic stress. Feeding antibiotic resulted in improved weight gain, feed consumption and efficiency of feed utilization. Lipopolysaccharide-injected birds developed heavier livers, spleens and intestines relative to body weights and higher rectal temperatures and hepatic metallothionein concentrations, presumably due to an immunologic stress. Omitting antibiotic from the diet resulted in similar changes. These results indicate that feeding antibiotics may permit growth by preventing immunologic stress and associated metabolic changes brought about by monokines including interleukin-1.