Influence of systemic fluoroquinolone administration on the presence of Pasteurella multocida in the upper respiratory tract of clinically healthy calves
2008

Effect of Enrofloxacin on Bacteria in Calves

Sample size: 4 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Boudewijn Catry, Siska Croubels, Stefan Schwarz, Piet Deprez, Bianca Cox, Corinna Kehrenberg, Geert Opsomer, Annemie Decostere, Freddy Haesebrouck

Primary Institution: Ghent University

Hypothesis

How does systemic fluoroquinolone administration affect the presence of Pasteurella multocida in the nasopharynx of healthy calves?

Conclusion

Enrofloxacin temporarily eradicated Pasteurella multocida in treated calves but allowed Arcanobacterium pyogenes to become predominant.

Supporting Evidence

  • Enrofloxacin was administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg for five days.
  • Pasteurella multocida was isolated from control calves throughout the study.
  • Arcanobacterium pyogenes became predominant in one treated calf after enrofloxacin therapy.

Takeaway

When calves were given a medicine called enrofloxacin, it helped get rid of a bad germ for a while, but another germ took its place.

Methodology

Four calves were treated with enrofloxacin or placebo, and nasal samples were collected to monitor bacterial presence over 10 days.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the small number of calves and the controlled environment.

Limitations

The study had a small sample size and was limited to only two treatment groups.

Participant Demographics

Four dairy calves aged 24–28 days.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.04

Statistical Significance

p=0.04

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1751-0147-50-36

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