Efficacy of florfenicol for treatment of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of florfenicol for treatment of calves with naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK).

DESIGN:

Randomized controlled field trial.

ANIMALS:

63 beef calves and 80 dairy calves between 4 and 12 months of age.

PROCEDURE:

Calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Calves in the SC treatment group received a single dose of florfenicol (40 mg/kg [18.2 mg/lb of body weight), SC, on day 0. Calves in the IM treatment group received florfenicol (20 mg/kg [9.1 mg/lb]), IM, on days 0 and 2. Calves in the control group received injections of saline solution (0.9% NaCl), IM, on days 0 and 2. Calves were reevaluated every other day for 20 days after treatment.

RESULTS:

Corneal ulcers healed by day 20 in 48 of 49 (98%) calves treated with florfenicol IM, 39 of 42 (93%) calves treated with florfenicol SC, and 33 of 52 (63%) control calves.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Florfenicol administered SC (1 dose) or IM (2 doses 48 hours apart) was effective for treatment of calves with naturally occurring IBK.

• Authors: J A Angelos, E L Dueger, L W George, T K Carrier, J E Mihalyi, S B Cosgrove, J C Johnson
• Journal: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (J Am Vet Med Assoc) Vol. 216 Issue 1 Pg. 62-4 (Jan 01 2000) ISSN: 0003-1488 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10638321 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• florfenicol
• Thiamphenicol

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Cattle
• Cattle Diseases (drug therapy)
• Female
• Injections, Intramuscular (veterinary)
• Injections, Subcutaneous (veterinary)
• Keratoconjunctivitis, Infectious (drug therapy)
• Male
• Moraxella bovis (drug effects)
• Neisseriaceae Infections (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Thiamphenicol (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)