Randomised positive control trial of NSAID and antimicrobial treatment for calf fever caused by pneumonia

Mahendran, S A; Booth, R E; Burge, M; Bell, N J

Abstract

One hundred and fifty-four preweaning calves were followed between May and October 2015. Calves were fitted with continuous monitoring temperature probes (TempVerified FeverTag), programmed so a flashing light emitting diode (LED) light was triggered following six hours of a sustained ear canal temperature of ≥39.7°C. A total of 83 calves (61.9 per cent) developed undifferentiated fever, with a presumptive diagnosis of pneumonia through exclusion of other calf diseases. Once fever was detected, calves were randomly allocated to treatment groups. Calves in group 1 (NSAID) received 2 mg/kg flunixin meglumine (Allevinix, Merial) for three consecutive days and group 2 (antimicrobial) received 6 mg/kg gamithromycin (Zactran, Merial). If fever persisted for 72 hours after the initial treatment, calves were given further treatment (group 1 received antimicrobial and group 2 received NSAID). Calves in group 1 (NSAID) were five times more likely (P=0.002) to require a second treatment (the antimicrobial) after 72 hours to resolve the fever compared with the need to give group 2 (antimicrobial) calves a second treatment (NSAID). This demonstrates the importance of ongoing monitoring and follow-up of calves with respiratory disease. However, of calves with fever in group 1 (NSAID), 25.7 per cent showed resolution following NSAID-only treatment with no detrimental effect on the development of repeated fever or daily live weight gain. This suggests that NSAID alone may be a useful first-line treatment, provided adequate attention is given to ongoing monitoring to identify those cases that require additional antimicrobial treatment.

Citation

Mahendran, S. A., Booth, R. E., Burge, M., & Bell, N. J. (2017). Randomised positive control trial of NSAID and antimicrobial treatment for calf fever caused by pneumonia. Veterinary Record, 181(2), https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104057

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 16, 2017
• Publication Date: Apr 21, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 27, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 21, 2020
• Journal: VETERINARY RECORD
• Print ISSN: 0042-4900
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 181
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104057
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1392205