Nine male dogs (10.3-13.5 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to three groups of three dogs each and administered ceftiofur sodium subcutaneously as a single dose of 0.22, 2.2, or 4.4 mg ceftiofur free acid equivalents/kg body weight. Plasma and urine samples were collected serially for 72 h and assayed for ceftiofur and metabolites (derivatized to desfuroylceftiofur acetamide) using high-performance liquid chromatography. Urine concentrations remained above the MIC90 for Escherichia coli (4.0 micrograms/mL) and Proteus mirabilis (1.0 micrograms/mL) for over 24 h after doses of 2.2 mg/kg (8.1 micrograms/mL) and 4.4 mg/kg (29.6 micrograms/mL), the interval between treatments for ceftiofur sodium in dogs, whereas urine concentrations 24 h after dosing at 0.22 mg/kg (0.1 mg/Ib) were below the MIC90 for E. coli and P. mirabilis (0.6 microgram/mL). Plasma concentrations were dose-proportional, with peak concentrations of 1.66 +/- 0.0990 micrograms/mL, 8.91 +/- 6.42 micrograms/mL, and 26.7 +/- 1.07 micrograms/mL after doses of 0.22, 2.2, and 4.4 mg/kg, respectively. The area under the plasma concentration versus time curve, when normalized to dose, was similar across all dosage groups.
Summary
Ceftiofur sodium was evaluated as a therapy for respiratory infections in horses. This cephalosporin antimicrobial was administered intramuscularly every 24 h and at a dose of 2.2 mg/kg (1.0 mg/lb) of body weight. The efficacy of ceftiofur sodium was compared with that of a positive control drug, ampicillin sodium (recommended dose of 6.6 mg/kg [3 mg/lb], given every 12 h). Both treatments were continued for 48 h after clinical symptoms were no longer evident (maximum of 10 days). Fifty‐five (55) horses with naturally acquired respiratory infections were included in the study; 28 were treated with ceftiofur and 27 with ampicillin. Clinical improvement was recorded for 92.9% of the patients treated with ceftiofur and 92.6% of the animals receiving ampicillin. Both therapies reduced body temperatures to an afebrile level after 2 days of treatment. Complete recovery/cure was noted for 78.6% of the ceftiofur patients and 59.3% of the horses treated with ampicillin. Supporting variables (depression/malaise, respiration/dyspnoea, nasal discharge) were assessed and these also substantiated the effectiveness of the treatments. Both antibiotics were well tolerated. Neither pain nor swelling were noted at the ceftiofur injection site(s). None of the animals developed diarrhoea. Data from this study indicated that ceftiofur sodium is an effective and safe treatment for respiratory infections in horses.
A total of forty‐eight dogs were utilized to titrate and evaluate the activity of a new miticide, amitraz. The treatment was applied dermally and evaluated for efficacy against experimentally induced Demodex canis and Sarcoptes scabiei infestations. Five different concentrations (2000, 1000, 500, 250, 125 p.p.m.) of the active drug, N'—(2, 4‐dimethylphenyl)N—{[(2, 4‐dimethylphenyl) imino] methyl} ‐N‐methyl‐methanimidamide, were tested. The activity of amitraz was compared to a standard treatment, placebo treatment, and no treatment.
A single dermal treatment with amitraz (all concentrations) indicated activity against both D. canis and S. scabiei. The lowest concentration of active drug (125 p.p.m.) was significantly less efficacious than the four higher concentrations (250, 500, 1000, 2000 p.p.m.). At the 250 p.p.m. (or higher) level the effectiveness of this new miticide was comparable to the standard treatment. The data indicate the 250 p.p.m. concentration is the optimal level and the recommended dilution for treatment of mange mites. Drug reactions related to amitraz were not observed.
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