title: Evaluation of the efficacy of gallium maltolate for chemoprophylaxis against pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi infection in foals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the chemoprophylactic effect of gallium maltolate on the cumulative incidence of pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi infection in foals.
  
  
  METHODS
  483 foals born and raised on 12 equine breeding farms with a history of endemic R equi infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 foals were treated with a placebo and group 2 foals were treated with gallium maltolate (approx 30 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) during the first 2 weeks after birth. Foals were monitored for development of pneumonia attributable to R equi infection and for adverse effects of gallium maltolate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the cumulative incidence of R equi pneumonia among the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemoprophylaxis via gallium maltolate administered orally at approximately 30 mg/kg daily for the first 2 weeks after birth failed to reduce the cumulative incidence of pneumonia attributable to R equi infection among foals on breeding farms with endemic R equi infections. Further investigation is needed to identify strategies for control of R equi infections.
authors: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. kchaffin@cvm.tamu.edu
authors: M Keith
authors: MK
authors: Chaffin
authors: Noah D
authors: ND
authors: Cohen
authors: Ronald J
authors: RJ
authors: Martens
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: O'Conor
authors: Lawrence R
authors: LR
authors: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011753:Pyrones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011753:Pyrones; C512662:gallium maltolate