Effect of treatment with oxytetracycline during the acute stages of experimentally induced equine ehrlichial colitis in ponies.
Eighteen ponies were inoculated IV with Ehrlichia risticii-infected P388D1 mouse monocyte cells. Twenty-four hours after onset of fever (rectal temperature > 38.8 C), 9 ponies were treated with oxytetracycline (6.6 mg/kg of body weight, IV, q 24 h) for 5 days. The remaining 9 ponies served as infected nontreated controls. Mean scores of the following variables were not significantly different between groups on the day treatment was begun: rectal temperature, diarrhea, borborygmal sounds, feed intake, mental attitude, and evidence of a hyperresonant area in the abdomen. All ponies were observed for progression of clinical signs typical of ehrlichial colitis. Within 12 hours of initiation of treatment, only 1 treated pony had a rectal temperature > 38.8 C and most rectal temperatures were < 38.3 C. In contrast, only 2 control ponies had rectal temperatures < 38.8 C (mean rectal temperature values were significantly, P = 0.01, different between groups). In the treatment group, 4 ponies had no signs of depression after the first day of treatment, and only 1 had signs of depression after the second day of treatment (mean scores between groups were significantly different, P = 0.01). Feed intake remained normal in 4 treated ponies and improved in 4 of the remaining 5 after treatment began. Most of the control ponies had a progressive decrease in their feed intake during the observation period (mean scores between groups were significantly, P = 0.01, different). Three ponies in the control group and 2 ponies in the treatment group developed diarrhea before the treatment observation period began.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Palmer
J E
JE
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348.
Benson
C E
CE
Whitlock
R H
RH
D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010118:Oxytetracycline