tulathromycin and Otitis-Media

The objective of this study was to evaluate one strategy for control (metaphylaxis) of bovine respiratory disease, with and without co-morbidity with otitis media, in dairy heifers at a commercial development facility. Individual heifers were the experimental unit. At weaning, 1 of 3 experimental treatments (gamithromycin, tulathromycin, or no medication) was randomly assigned to 1,567 heifers from 11 different dairies. Gamithromycin was administered to 631 heifers, tulathromycin was administered to 621 heifers, and no medication was administered to 315 heifers (negative control). Heifers were then commingled and penned according to body weight. Each pen contained heifers from each group, and periodically, larger numbers of heifers were penned together. All heifers were observed for the subsequent 42 d and treated according to protocols prescribed for the facility. Morbidity due to respiratory disease was less for heifers medicated with gamithromycin than for heifers medicated with tulathromycin. Morbidity due to respiratory disease was less for heifers medicated with gamithromycin than for heifers in the negative control group. Fewer heifers medicated with either antimicrobial were subsequently treated because of co-morbidity with otitis media. Mortality was not different among the treatment groups. Heifers medicated with either antimicrobial had greater average daily gain than did heifers in the negative control group.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Body Weight; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Disaccharides; Female; Heterocyclic Compounds; Macrolides; Morbidity; Otitis Media; Random Allocation; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Weaning

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

The aims of this field trial were to describe the clinical-pathologic findings in calves with otitis media (OM) and media-interna (OMI), to evaluate, through the development of a scoring system, the effectiveness of a standardized therapeutic protocol, and to identify the causative pathogens and their possible correlation with concurrent respiratory disease. All animals underwent physical and neurological examinations at three experimental time points: at diagnosis/beginning of treatment (T0), 1 week (T1) and 2 weeks (T2) after therapy was started, respectively. Follow-up telephone interviews with animal owners were conducted 1 month later. The therapeutic protocol consisted of tulathromycin (Draxxin®; Zoetis), oxytetracycline hydrochloride (Terramicina 100®; Zoetis), and carprofen (Rimadyl®; Zoetis).. Twenty-two calves were enrolled. Physical and otoscopic examination at T0 revealed monolateral and bilateral otorrhea in 16 and 6 calves, respectively, with peripheral vestibular system involvement in calves presenting with neurological signs (n = 17; 77 %). A significant improvement of clinical and neurological scores was observed in 20 (90 %) calves, a full recovery in only 1 (5 %). One calf worsened between T0 and T1 and it was removed from the study. None of the other animals showed a worsening of clinical conditions and/or required further treatments at one month follow up. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated in 89 % of the affected ears either alone or together with P. multocida (n = 5), Streptococcus spp. (n = 1), Staphylococcus spp. (n = 1), and Pseudomonas spp. (n = 1). M. bovis either alone or together with these bacteria was also isolated from the upper and/or lower respiratory tract in 19 (86 %) calves.. This is the first prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized therapeutic protocol for the treatment of OM/OMI in calves. The therapy led to clinical improvement in the majority of the calves. Persistence of mild clinical-neurological signs did not compromise productive performance. The numerical scoring system for clinical and neurological signs permitted objective evaluation of response to therapy. M. bovis was the pathogen most often isolated. This finding should be considered in the treatment of OM/OMI in calves. Moreover, respiratory tract infection should not be underrated, since it is one of the major risk factors for the development of OM/OMI.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Carbazoles; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Disaccharides; Female; Heterocyclic Compounds; Labyrinthitis; Male; Otitis Media; Oxytetracycline