Efficacy of the latest fluoroquinolones against experimental Yersinia pestis.
The efficacies of prophylactic and therapeutic gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin were assessed in a BALB/c mouse model of systemic and pneumonic plague and compared with ciprofloxacin. Mice were given 100 mg/kg of the antibiotic by oral administration twice daily for 7 days starting 1h prior to infection or following infection. All antibiotics offered full protection for up to 6h following systemic challenge, and for up to 30 h following an aerosol challenge. The efficacy of each of the antibiotics decreased when antibiotics were started 18 h following systemic challenge and 48 h following aerosol challenge. Fluoroquinolones may therefore be considered useful candidates for the treatment of bubonic and pneumonic plague.
Steward
J
J
Dstl Porton Down, Biomedical Sciences, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 OJQ, UK. jasteward@dstl.gov.uk
Lever
M S
MS
Russell
P
P
Beedham
R J
RJ
Stagg
A J
AJ
Taylor
R R
RR
Brooks
T J G
TJ
D000818:Animals; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010930:Plague / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000187:drug effects*
D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D000077734:Gatifloxacin