Evaluation of tulathromycin in the treatment of pulmonary abscesses in foals.
Tulathromycin is a new injectable macrolide antibiotic used for the treatment of pulmonary diseases of swine and cattle. In this study, 37 foals with sonographic evidence of lung abscesses were treated with tulathromycin (2.5mg/kg intramuscularly [IM] once weekly, group 1) and 33 foals (group 2) with a combination of azithromycin (10mg/kg per os [PO] once daily for the first seven days of therapy, thereafter every other day) and rifampin (10mg/kg PO twice daily). The bacterial aetiological agent was not determined. The foals were only mildly sick and the median number of pulmonary abscesses was 1.4 (group 1) and 1.6 (group 2). Thirty foals in each group were treated without modifying therapy protocols until all clinical signs of disease had subsided. Tulathromycin was administered for a mean of 53 days, and azithromycin/rifampin for 42 days. The following side effects were associated with tulathromycin (279 IM injections): self-limiting diarrhoea in 11 foals; elevated temperature in six foals, and swellings at the injection site in 12 foals. This study provides some evidence that tulathromycin is well tolerated and appears promising for the treatment of pulmonary abscesses in foals.
Venner
Monica
M
Equine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, Hannover D-30173, Germany. monica.venner@tiho-hannover.de
Kerth
Regina
R
Klug
Erich
E
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018942:Macrolides
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D004187:Disaccharides; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D012293:Rifampin; C485204:tulathromycin; D018942:Macrolides