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


METHODS
Randomized controlled field trial.


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


METHODS
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
Florfenicol administered SC (1 dose) or IM (2 doses 48 hours apart) was effective for treatment of calves with naturally occurring IBK.
Angelos
J A
JA
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Dueger
E L
EL
George
L W
LW
Carrier
T K
TK
Mihalyi
J E
JE
Cosgrove
S B
SB
Johnson
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D007639:Keratoconjunctivitis, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016955:Moraxella bovis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016870:Neisseriaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D013839:Thiamphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C035534:florfenicol; D013839:Thiamphenicol