title: Efficacy and tolerability of early administration of valnemulin hydrochloride premix on epizootic rabbit enteropathy.
abstract: A blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of valnemulin hydrochloride premix during an outbreak of epizootic rabbit enteropathy (ERE) when administered in feed for 21 consecutive days after confirmation of the first ERE case. Administration of valnemulin at 20 and 35 parts per million (ppm) significantly reduced mortality by 11% and 7.6%, respectively, when compared with the non-medicated control group (23% mortality). Non-ERE related adverse events, including dysbacteriosis, enterotoxaemia and pneumonia, occurred in all groups at similar frequencies (untreated: 1.8%; 20 ppm valnemulin: 2.8%; 35 ppm valnemulin: 1.3%). Administration of valnemulin did not affect feed consumption or body weight gain; treated rabbits had sustained weight gain and feed conversion rates (FCRs). However, from days 7 to 21 of the outbreak, untreated rabbits had significantly lower daily weight gains and higher FCRs than medicated rabbits, suggesting a protective effect of valnemulin during the peak of the disease. Untreated rabbits exhibited compensatory growth from days 21 to 28, when the last observation was made. FCRs for the entire study were similar among all three groups. Impaction and diarrhoea were more frequent in untreated animals, with a poor prognosis, while tympanism was more common in valnemulin-treated rabbits that survived. In conclusion, early administration of valnemulin hydrochloride premix at 20 or 35 ppm is efficacious and safe for the treatment of naturally occurring ERE.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health, Schwarzwaldallee 215, Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: ramiro.dip@novartis.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dip
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic for Production Animals, Szent István University Faculty of Veterinary Science, Üllő, Dóra Major, Hungary.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nemet
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health, Schwarzwaldallee 215, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schiessl
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health, Schwarzwaldallee 215, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health, Schwarzwaldallee 215, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strehlau
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; C117845:valnemulin
keywords: ERE; Enteropathy; Rabbit; Valnemulin