Tylosin-Responsive Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs

Abstract

Fourteen dogs had shown chronic or intermittent diarrhea for more than 1 year. Diarrhea had been successfully treated with tylosin for at least 6 months but recurred when treatment was withdrawn on at least 2 occasions. Tylosin-responsive diarrhea (TRD) affects typically middle-aged, large-breed dogs and clinical signs indicate that TRD affects both the small and large intestine. Treatment with tylosin eliminated diarrhea in all dogs within 3 days and in most dogs within 24 hours. Tylosin administration controlled diarrhea in all dogs, but after it was discontinued, diarrhea reappeared in 12 (85.7%) of 14 dogs within 30 days. Prednisone given for 3 days did not completely resolve diarrhea. Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG did not prevent the relapse of diarrhea in any of 9 dogs so treated. The etiology of TRD, a likely form of antibiotic-responsive diarrhea (ARD) is unclear. The following reasons for chronic diarrhea were excluded or found to be unlikely: parasites, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, enteropathogenic bacteria (Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Yersinia spp., or Lawsoni intracellularis), and Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin and Clostridium difficile A toxin. A possible etiologic factor is a specific enteropathogenic organism that is a common resident in the canine gastrointestinal tract and is sensitive to tylosin but difficult to eradicate. Additional studies are required to identify the specific cause of TRD.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in pigeons

“…In EPI, lipase deficiency prevents breakdown of dietary triglycerides into monoglycerides and fatty acids, causing an inadequate solubilization and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin K. This produces vitamin K deficiency as described in humans (Edwards & Russel, 1987;Dutta et al ., 1982;Sinaasappel et al ., 2002;Mosler et al ., 2003). In dogs with EPI, malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins may be suspected but the importance of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K deficiency in dogs has not been reported (Westermarck et al ., 2005). In birds, vitamin K deficiency can result in coagulopathy since vitamin K is required for the synthesis of prothrombin, which is involved in extrinsic and common coagulation pathways (Lauren, 2000;Morrisey & Paul-Murphy, 2003).…”

“…Qualitative faecal analysis for the presence of trypsin and amylase activities and undigested food particles can be used to arrive at a presumptive diagnosis. Serum amylase and lipase concentrations are of no value in diagnosing EPI in dogs and cats (Westermarck et al ., 2005). Some dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency have high serum alanine aminotransferase activity because of disrupted small intestinal barriers and resultant hepatic inflammation.…”

“…The most common cause of such severe loss of exocrine tissue in the dog is pancreatic acinar atrophy. The aetiology of pancreatic acinar atrophy is unknown but the most accepted hypothesis is that it is an autoimmune disease due to genetic susceptibility and the marked T-lymphocyte infiltration during the progression of the acinar atrophy (Westermarck et al ., 2005). Pancreatic insufficiency in mammals is caused less commonly by chronic pancreatitis and rarely by pancreatic neoplasia (Williams, 1989;Birchard et al ., 1994a).…”

Pharmacokinetics of a Florfenicol-Tylosin Combination after Intravenous and Intramuscular Administration to Beagle Dogs

“…For example, Scott et al [21] reported a successful and safe treatment of staphylococcal pyoderma in dogs by administration of tylosin at 10 mg/kg body weight every 12 hr. In another study, treatment with tylosin eliminated diarrhea in dogs within 1-3 days [25]. Although it is rarely used parenterally in dogs and cats, the injectable form of tylosin is also approved in some countries, and oral tylosin is sometimes recommended for the treatment of chronic colitis in small animals.…”

Expression of serotonin, chromogranin-A, serotonin receptor-2B, tryptophan hydroxylase-1, and serotonin reuptake transporter in the intestine of dogs with chronic enteropathy

“…30 Canine patients may present with clinical signs of GI dysfunction, such as vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, and weight loss, resulting from a broad variety of etiologies. A common feature of many of these conditions is the presence of GI inflammation, which may be the result of dietary intolerance (so-called "food-responsive diarrhea" 28 ), intestinal dysbioses, chronic colonization by bacterial pathogens (so-called "antibiotic-responsive diarrhea" 21,41 ), or the condition may be idiopathic. As classically understood, canine idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by persistent or recurrent clinical signs of GI disease of unidentified cause, associated with histologic evidence of inflammatory infiltration of the intestinal mucosa.…”