tulathromycin and Diarrhea

To determine the effects of administration of 1 dose of tulathromycin on the incidence of various diseases and growth, identify risk factors for slow growth, and determine the association of Mycoplasma bovis status with the incidence of otitis media in calves.. Randomized controlled trial and cross-sectional study.. 788 dairy heifer calves (median age, 3 days).. Calves received tulathromycin or a saline (0.9% NaCl) solution control treatment once. Calves were observed daily for 8 weeks by farm staff to detect diseases. Nasal swab specimens were collected from some calves for Mycoplasma spp culture.. Tulathromycin-treated calves had significantly lower odds of developing otitis media (OR, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 0.82) versus control calves. Control calves had significantly higher odds of developing diarrhea (OR, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.6) versus tulathromycin-treated calves. Control calves and those with failure of passive transfer, fever, lameness, respiratory tract disease, or diarrhea had significantly lower average daily gain versus other calves. Seventeen of the 66 (26%) calves that underwent repeated testing had positive Mycoplasma spp culture results, but positive results were not associated with otitis media. One of 42 calves with otitis media tested for Mycoplasma spp had positive results, and 1 of 43 age-matched calves without otitis media had positive results.. Tulathromycin-treated calves in this study had a lower incidence of diarrhea and otitis media versus control calves. Various diseases had negative effects on average daily gain. Mycoplasma bovis status was not associated with otitis media in calves.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cattle; Diarrhea; Disaccharides; Female; Heterocyclic Compounds; Mycoplasma bovis; Odds Ratio; Otitis Media; Risk Factors; Tuberculosis, Bovine; Weight Gain

This objective of this study was to evaluate the use of tulathromycin on the timing of appearance and number of four indicator organisms representing the gastrointestinal microbial community, the incidence of diarrhea and a measure of the systemic inflammatory profile in Holstein heifers. Twenty-six Holstein heifer calves were distributed between receiving (ATB+) or not receiving (ATB-) tulathromycin at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg by 12 h of age. Samples from the calves were collected at six times during the neonatal period. Stool samples were used to determine the dry matter content and quantitative analysis of specific indicator bacterial populations. Samples of whole blood and serum were collected to determine the total number of neutrophils, the number of CD62L+ neutrophils, quantity of haptoglobin, and to allow for ex vivo measurement of reactive oxygen species. A higher frequency of diarrhea was detected in the ATB+ calves (84.6%) than ATB- (53.8%) on days 13-15 (P = 0.084). ATB- calves had a greater number of Bifidobacterium in stool on day 3-5 (P = 0.002), and on days 7-9 (P = 0.018). The ATB+ calves tended to have a higher number of Escherichia coli in stool on days 20-23 and days 27-30 (P = 0.052 and P = 0.072). Both the total number of neutrophils (P = 0.013) and the capacity for ROS production was higher in ATB- (P = 0.038) than ATB+ calves at all points tested. ATB+ calves had higher levels of haptoglobin (P = 0.032) on days 13-15. Administration of tulathromycin appeared to negatively impact the establishment of a normal microbiome and to modulate the development of innate immune function.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Bacteria; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Diarrhea; Disaccharides; Feces; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Heterocyclic Compounds; Inflammation