Immune modulatory effects of tulathromycin, gamithromycin, and oxytetracycline in cattle.

Certain classes of antibiotics, including tetracyclines and macrolides, are known to exert immune suppressive effects in other species but the immune modulatory effects of these antibiotics have not been previously studied in cattle. To address this question, we investigated the effects of oxytetracycline, gamithromycin, and tulathromycin on T cell and macrophage responses to activation, using in vitro assays. In addition, we assessed the impact of these antibiotics on T cell responses in vivo following treatment of healthy cattle with currently recommended doses of each of the three antibiotics. We found that all 3 antibiotics markedly suppressed T cell proliferation in vitro at relevant therapeutic drug concentrations and significantly suppressed macrophage activation responses to LPS. In cattle treated with a single dose of each antibiotic, we observed significant suppression of T cell proliferation and cytokine production beginning as early as 6 h after administration, with increasing immune suppression observed at 48 h. Taken together, these results indicate that commonly used antibiotics in cattle exert significant immune modulatory activity, in addition to their antimicrobial activity. These off-target effects should be considered when using antibiotics for prophylaxis or metaphylaxis in high-risk dairy or beef cattle (192 words).

Antibimicrobial Susceptibility of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole and 3rd-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates Enumerated Longitudinally from Feedlot Arrival to Harvest in High-Risk Beef Cattle Administered Common Metaphylactic Antimicrobials.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli threaten the preservation of antimicrobials to treat infections in humans and livestock. Thus, it is important to understand where antimicrobial-resistant E. coli persist and factors that contribute to its their development. Crossbred cattle (n = 249; body weight = 244 kg ±25 kg standard deviation) were blocked by arrival date and assigned metaphylactic antimicrobial treatments of sterile saline control, tulathromycin (TUL), ceftiofur, or florfenicol at random. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (COTR) and third-generation cephalosporin (CTXR)-resistant E. coli were isolated from fecal samples on days 0, 28, 56, 112, 182, and study END (day 252 for block 1 and day 242 for block 2). Then, susceptibility testing was conducted on all confirmed isolates. MDR was detected in both COTR and CTXR E. coli isolates. In COTR isolates, the number of antimicrobials each isolate was resistant to and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin was greatest on day 28 compared with all other days (p ≤ 0.04). Similarly, chloramphenicol MIC was greater on day 28 than on day 0 (p < 0.01). Overall, sulfisoxazole MIC was less for TUL than all other treatments (p ≤ 0.02), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole MIC was greater for TUL than all other treatments (p ≤ 0.03). Finally, there was no effect of treatment, day, or treatment × day for tetracycline or meropenem MIC (p ≥ 0.07). In CTXR isolates, there was an effect of day for all antimicrobials tested except ampicillin and meropenem (p ≤ 0.06). In conclusion, administering a metaphylactic antimicrobial at feedlot arrival did influence the susceptibility of COTR and CTXR E. coli. However, MDR E. coli are widely distributed, and the MIC for most antimicrobials was not different from the initial value upon completion of the feeding period.

Metaphylactic antimicrobial effects on occurrences of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. measured longitudinally from feedlot arrival to harvest in high-risk beef cattle.

AIMS: Our objective was to determine how injectable antimicrobials affected populations of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. in feedlot cattle. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two arrival date blocks of high-risk crossbred beef cattle (n = 249; mean BW = 244 kg) were randomly assigned one of four antimicrobial treatments administered on day 0: sterile saline control (CON), tulathromycin (TUL), ceftiofur (CEF) or florfenicol (FLR). Faecal samples were collected on days 0, 28, 56, 112, 182 and study end (day 252 for block 1 and day 242 for block 2). Hide swabs and subiliac lymph nodes were collected the day before and the day of harvest. Samples were cultured for antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. The effect of treatment varied by day across all targeted bacterial populations (p ≤ 0.01) except total E. coli. Total E. coli counts were greatest on days 112, 182 and study end (p ≤ 0.01). Tulathromycin resulted in greater counts and prevalence of Salmonella from faeces than CON at study end (p ≤ 0.01). Tulathromycin and CEF yielded greater Salmonella hide prevalence and greater counts of 128ERYR E. coli at study end than CON (p ≤ 0.01). No faecal Salmonella resistant to tetracyclines or third-generation cephalosporins were detected. Ceftiofur was associated with greater counts of 8ERYR Enterococcus spp. at study end (p ≤ 0.03). By the day before harvest, antimicrobial use did not increase prevalence or counts for all other bacterial populations compared with CON (p ≥ 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in feedlot cattle is not caused solely by using a metaphylactic antimicrobial on arrival, but more likely a multitude of environmental and management factors.

[Current state of metaphylaxis of urinary stones in Russian Federation].

INTRODUCTION: Urolithiasis is one of the most common urological diseases in adults. Increased life expectancy of the population in developed countries, make urolithiasis topical issue and requires close attention. Due to the high risk of recurrent stone formation causing repeated surgical interventions, the issue of effective urinary stone metaphylaxis is very important today. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To study the current state of the problem of urolithiasis metaphylaxis among Russian urologists, an anonymous questionnaire was applied. A 25-question questionnaire was sent to e-mail to more than 4,000 Russian urologists. A total of 1,238 specialists completed the questionnaire. The database compiled from the received responses was processed and presented with descriptive statistics in the form of tables and charts. RESULTS: According to the survey, more than half of the 831 (67.1%) specialists specialized in the treatment of urolithiasis. It was noted that 626 (86%) inpatient urologists and 205 (40%) outpatient urologists specialized in the treatment of urolithiasis. Only 521 (69.6%) urologists specializing in surgical treatment of urolithiasis give a patient a stone fragment to analyze its chemical composition. At the same time, half of the respondents reported that less than 10% of patients come to them for further metaphylaxis. One of the main reasons for not analyzing the chemical composition of the stone was the fact that 877 (70,84%) specialists indicated the inaccessibility of analysis under the state guarantee program, 503 (40,63%) specialists indicated the patients satisfaction with the results of minimally invasive surgical treatment and lack of sufficient motivation for further examinations. At the same time, less than 3% of specialists can perform stone analysis within the framework of the state guaranty program. 1180 (96,8%) respondents practiced the prophylaxis of recurrent calculi formation, but only 336 (28,47%) performed comprehensive metabolic examination of all patients followed by prescription of drug therapy and appropriate diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey revealed low involvement of urologists at the outpatient level in the process of conservative treatment and metaphylaxis of urolithiasis, low activity of urologists in performing complex metabolic study and comprehensive prevention of recurrent stone formation, low percentage of performing chemical composition analysis of stone and low activity of urologists in performing primary litholytic therapy of urate stones. Based on this analysis of the responses of most Russian urologists, it is possible to formulate recommendations to remove the obstacles to providing patients with urolithiasis with quality medical care in terms of conservative therapy and metaphylaxis of urolithiasis.

Effect of metaphylactic administration of tildipirosin on the incidence of pneumonia and otitis and on the upper respiratory tract and fecal microbiome of preweaning Holstein calves.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of the metaphylactic use of a semi-synthetic long-acting macrolide (tildipirosin) on the prevention of pneumonia and otitis in preweaning Holstein calves, as well as its effects on the microbiome of their upper respiratory tract (URT) and feces. Newborn healthy Holstein heifers, collectively housed, were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatment groups: treatment (TRT; n = 932) or control (CTR; n = 927). Calves in the TRT group received a single subcutaneous injection of 4 mg/kg tildipirosin (Zuprevo, Merck Animal Health) at 7 ± 7 d of life. Calves in the CTR group received no drug injection. All enrolled calves were evaluated from 1 to 63 ± 3 d of life (weaning age) and monitored daily for any adverse health events during this period. Daily physical examination was performed to diagnose pneumonia and otitis, and body weight was measured weekly in all animals. From a randomly selected subset of 217 calves, blood samples for biochemical variables analysis and swabs were collected weekly from the URT and rectum for analysis of the nasal and fecal microbiome, respectively, via next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Total bacterial load was evaluated using quantitative PCR. In addition, another subset of 26 calves was randomly selected and fecal swabs were collected in a more intensive sampling to investigate the short-term effect of tildipirosin administration on the fecal microbiome. We performed general mixed linear models and logistic regression to analyze continuous and binary outcomes, respectively. Tildipirosin metaphylaxis reduced the incidence of otitis (CTR = 47.03%; TRT = 37.55%) and tended to reduce the incidence of pneumonia (CTR = 20.71%; TRT = 17.38%) and the overall mortality risk (CTR = 6.69%; TRT = 4.94%). We observed no significant differences between groups for mortality due to pneumonia (CTR = 0.86%; TRT = 0.97%) or mortality due to otitis (CTR = 2.05%; TRT = 1.39%). Calves in the TRT group had a higher average daily gain than calves in the CTR group. Furthermore, metaphylaxis had no significant effects on the total bacterial load, genus, or phylum analysis of the fecal microbiome from the 2 subset groups. However, for the URT microbiota, we observed a significant decrease in total bacterial load for the TRT group compared to the CTR group 1 week after metaphylactic injection. Tildipirosin metaphylaxis decreased the mean relative abundance of the genera Mannheimia, Moraxella, and Pasteurella but significantly increased the mean relative abundance of Mycoplasma. Although tildipirosin had no positive effect on Mycoplasma, it reduced the mean relative abundance of important pathogenic bacteria in the URT and had positive effects for the control of otitis. The metaphylactic use of tildipirosin can be a suitable strategy for the control of otitis on farms with a high prevalence of this disease.

[Adjustment of urine PH as effective tool for successful metaphylaxis of urinary stone disease. phytotherapy].

Urinary stone disease constitutes significant burden for healthcare system worldwide. Metaphylaxis after removal or spontaneous passage of urinary stone may be an effective measure for the prevention of recurrent stone episodes. An adjustment of urine pH, based on the type of urinary stone plays a key role in the metaphylaxis of urolithiasis. The use of combined preparations based on herbal plants, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activity and diuretic effect, and also affects pH level of urine without impairment of the body microbiome, is very promising for the metaphylaxis of urinary stone disease.

[Possibilities of using dietary supplements with antioxidant properties in urinary stone disease].

INTRODUCTION: Dietary supplements are successfully used in many fields of medicine, including urology. In particular, urologists often prescribe dietary supplements for patients with urolithiasis. AIM: to study an influence of dietary supplements Nefradoz on the metabolism of the main stone-forming substances and inhibitors of stone formation in patients with urolithiasis. INTRODUCTION: Dietary supplements are successfully used in many fields of medicine, including urology. In particular, urologists often prescribe dietary supplements for patients with urolithiasis. AIM: to study an influence of dietary supplements Nefradoz on the metabolism of the main stone-forming substances and inhibitors of stone formation in patients with urolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with urinary stone diseases were included in a single-center prospective randomized study. All patients were divided into 2 groups of 30 people, depending on the treatment. In the main group, patients followed standard diet, received general recommendations and dietary supplements Nefradoz for 28-30 days, 1 capsule (150 mg) 2 times a day with meals. In the control group, patients received only general recommendations and followed standard diet therapy for 28-30 days. The blood biochemical profile and 24-hour urine analysis were evaluated, as well as a urinalysis was performed on daily basis. RESULTS: In patients receiving Nefradoz, urinary uric acid excretion increased by 0.9 mmol/day. It must be emphasized that an increase in uric acid excretion did not exceed the upper normal limit. A tendency towards an increase in urine excretion of sodium (by 54 mmol / day), magnesium (by 1 mmol / day) and citrates (by 0.6 mmol / day) was also found. The analysis of urinalysis showed that in the main group, urine specific gravity was lower than in the control group. Higher urine pH in the main group compared to the control group was also shown. The severity of hematuria with the use of Nefradoz was almost two times lower than in patients who did not receive dietary supplement. CONCLUSION: Considering our data on the ability of dietary supplement Nefradoz to increase the concentration of main inhibitors of stone formation (magnesium and citrates), Nefradoz can be recommended for patients with urinary stone diseases, especially with concomitant hypomagnesuria and hypocitraturia.

Population Dynamics of Salmonella enterica within Beef Cattle Cohorts Followed from Single-Dose Metaphylactic Antibiotic Treatment until Slaughter.

Antibiotic use in cattle can select for multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica, which is considered a serious threat by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A randomized controlled longitudinal field trial was designed to determine the long-term effects of a single dose of ceftiofur or tulathromycin on Salmonella population characteristics in cattle feces and peripheral lymph nodes and on hides. A total of 134 beef cattle from two sources were divided among 12 pens, with cattle in each of the 3-pen blocks receiving a single dose of either ceftiofur or tulathromycin or neither (control) on day 0. Fecal samples were collected before treatment (day 0) and repeatedly following treatment until slaughter (day 99+). Hide and lymph node samples were collected at slaughter age. Salmonella prevalence, phenotypic antimicrobial resistance, serotype, and phylogenetic relationships were examined. Multilevel mixed logistic regression models indicated no significant effects (P ≥ 0.218) of metaphylactic antibiotics on the prevalence of Salmonella across sample types. However, there was a significant time effect observed, with prevalence increasing from spring through the midsummer months (P < 0.0001) in feces. The majority of Salmonella isolates were pansusceptible to a panel of 14 antibiotics both before and after treatment. Highly prevalent Salmonella serotypes were Salmonella enterica serovar Montevideo, Salmonella enterica serovar Anatum, Salmonella enterica serovar Cerro, and Salmonella enterica serovar Lubbock across all sample types. Strong pen and cattle source serotype clustering effects were observed among Salmonella isolates originating from fecal, lymph node, and hide samples; however, the potential role of Salmonella isolates from the pen environment prior to animal placement was not assessed in this study.IMPORTANCESalmonella is a leading bacterial foodborne pathogen, causing a significant number of human infections and deaths every year in the United States. Macrolides and 3rd-generation cephalosporins play critical roles in the treatment of human salmonellosis. Use of these antibiotics in beef cattle can select for resistant bacteria that may enter the food chain or spread from the farm via manure. There is a lack of longitudinal research concerning the long-term effects of metaphylactic antibiotic administration. Here, we assessed Salmonella population dynamics during the feeding period until slaughter following single-dose antibiotic treatment. We found no long-term effects of antibiotic use early in the cattle-feeding period on Salmonella prevalence and antimicrobial resistance at slaughter. We identified the pens in which cattle were housed as the factor that contributed most to Salmonella serotypes being shared; importantly, the dominant strain in each pen changed repeatedly over the entire feeding period.

Control of bovine respiratory disease, with and without co-morbidity by otitis media, in dairy heifers comparing gamithromycin, tulathromycin, or no medication at a commercial development facility.

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.

[Urinary stone disease. Part V. Drugs used for metaphylaxis of urinary stone disease].

The stages of postoperative metaphylaxis, drugs used for correction of metabolic disturbances are reviewed. In addition, the basic principles of drug metaphylaxis in various types of stone formation are described.

Nephrolithiasis against type 2 diabetes mellitus: on the effect of hypoglycemic therapy on lithogenesis.

AIM: To study the effects of oral hypoglycemic agents that can affect the probability of recurrence of nephrolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article is based on the results of examination and treatment of 315 patients suffering from recurrent nephroli-thiasis and medically compensated type 2 diabetes mellitus treated at the N.A. Lopatkin Institute of Urology and Interventional Radio-logy - the branch of the SMRC of Radiology, Ministry of Health of Russia and D.D. Pletnev City Hospital Moscow Healthcare -Department in 2012-2017. The patients were divided into three groups according to the applied tool antidiabetic: metformin, glibenclamide, canagliflozin. The control group consisted of patients receiving insulin therapy. RESULTS: The propensity of Metformin to reduce the pH of urine, which has a negative impact in the conditions of urate nephrolithiasis, which is most common in the population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glibenclamide, on the contrary, somewhat latches urine. But changes in the reaction of urine under the influence of the drug do not go beyond normal values and are not clinically significant. Canagliflozin increases diuresis due to medication induced glycosuria and stimulates renal excretion of uric acid and its salts. However canagliflozin does not cause significant shifts in the pH of urine that may somewhat negates the increased risk of recurrence of urate stone formation in the background of the uricosuric effect of the drug. CONCLUSION: Drug therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly affects the properties of urine from patients with nephrolithiasis.

[Urinary factors for calcium urolithiasis and their correction].

Drugs for preventing stone formation can be selected based on the average regional indicators, which have features depending on the region of the world. AIM: To investigate the features of urinary factors for lithogenesis (UFL) of calcium urolithiasis in Tashkent and evaluate the variants of their pharmacological correction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study analyzed data from 779 patients with calcium urolithiasis. Ninety-nine patients with uncomplicated calcium urolithiasis received non-selective preventive pharmacotherapy. Of them, patients of group 1 (n=21), 2 (n=56) and 3 (n=22) received alkaline citrate (AC) for 1 month, phytotherapy (PT) for 2 months, and combined therapy (AC + PT) for 1 month, respectively. Statistics of UFL in 779 patients with calcium urolithiasis were calculated, and the results of non-selective prophylaxis in 99 patients with uncomplicated calcium urolithiasis were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common UFLs were hypocitraturia (96.7%), decreased diuresis (96.3%), and hyperoxaluria (92.94%). In the patients of group 1, the treatment resulted in an increase in citrate by 54.14% and urine pH by 18.63%; diuresis did not change, and CaOx decreased by 50.63%. In group 2, there was an increase in citrate by 3.88% (on average for 2 months), urine pH by 10.82%, and diuresis by 32.17%; CaOx decreased by 32.59%. In group 3, citrate increased by 71.52%, urine pH by 18.07%, and diuresis by 34.71%; CaOx decreased by 69.15%. Correction of citraturia was effective in patients with initial hypocitraturia: in 80.95%, 78.6%, and 86.4% in groups 1-3, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings confirm the potential of empirical therapy based on the average statistical indicators of the region. The combination of AC (Litren) and PT (Canephron N) proved to be most effective: CaOx decreased to a low level, it was possible to compensate for the undesirable effects of prolonged intake of the synthetic drug (AC). Nevertheless, we believe that long-term controlled studies are needed to confirm the validity of this approach, and the results of this study should be regarded as promising.

[Effects of oral hypoglycemic drugs on lithogenic properties of urine in nephrolithiasis patients with concurrent type 2 diabetes].

AIM: To investigate the effects of oral hypoglycemic drugs on the lithogenic properties of urine in nephrolithiasis patients with concurrent type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 376 patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis and compensated type II diabetes mellitus who attended the N.A. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology - branch of the NMRRC of Minzdrav of Russia and D.D. Pletnev City Clinical Hospital, Moscow Health Department in 2012-2017. Patients were divided into five groups according to the administered oral hypoglycemic agent: metformin, glibenclamide, pioglitazone, canagliflozin, vildagliptin. The control group consisted of patients receiving insulin therapy. RESULTS: Metformin tended to acidify urine, thus producing a negative effect on urate nephrolithiasis, which is the most prevalent form of nephrolithiasis among patients with type II diabetes. Glibenclamide, on the contrary, alkalized the urine, but urine pH did not go beyond the ranges of normal values. Pioglitazone increased urine density with a simultaneous tendency to decrease diuresis, which is bad for any form of nephrolithiasis. Empagliflozin increased diuresis due to drug-induced glucosuria and also increased renal excretion of uric acid salts. However, at normal urine pH values, the uricosuric effect of the drug did not lead to a significantly increased risk of urate stone formation. Vildagliptin did not have a significant effect on urine output, urine pH, and renal salt excretion. CONCLUSION: Drug therapy for type II diabetes significantly affects the properties of urine in patients with nephrolithiasis, and it should be taken into account in the metaphylaxis of nephrolithiasis.

[Troyakov. Experience in using hytolysin in the integrated management of urinary tract infections and methapylactics of nephrolithiasis].

RELEVANCE: Urinary tract infection (UTI) are a risk factor for diseases leading to impairment of renal function and kidney stone disease (KSD). Growing resistance of uropathogens to antibacterial agents is a challenging issue in most countries of the world. Urolithiasis is the second most prevalent urologic condition following urinary tract infections and has a pronounced tendency to recur. Rational stone metaphylaxis leads to a significant reduction in the incidence of recurrent stones. In recent decades, there has been a markedly increasing interest in plant-based therapies in managing urologic diseases. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of phytotherapeutic medication Phytolysin in the integrated management of UTI and metaphylaxis of urolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of Phytolysin was conducted at the Department of Urology, I.M. Sechenov First MSMU and Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexology, Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk SMU in 40 women with episodes of exacerbation of chronic cystitis and 30 patients of both sexes during the postoperative metaphylaxis of the KSD. The age of the patients ranged from 20 to 68 years (mean age 40+/-2,8 years). RESULTS: Adding Phytolysin to the integrated management results in the improvement in general clinical signs and laboratory parameters of blood and urine, leads to a decrease in the level of leukocyturia, bacteriuria and an increase in diuresis and urinary alkalinization, reduces the number relapses of UTI and stone formation. CONCLUSION: Phytolysin is an effective and safe medication.

[The place of mineral water in the metaphylaxis of urolithiasis].

Urinary stone disease is a metabolic disorder tending to recur and having a growing proportion of younger patients. Current methods of surgical treatment do not guarantee the disease non-recurrence without effective subsequent metaphylaxis. At present, the principles of general and special (medical) metaphylaxis of urolithiasis have been developed and widely applied according to underlying metabolic disorders, the type of stone formation and risk factors for recurrence. Oversaturation of the urine with stone forming substances is a major factor in stone formation. Recommendations for using mineral water should not be given without a clear understanding of the expected effect of particular water. Its selection for treating urolithiasis depends on the chemical composition of the stones, underlying metabolic disorders, urine pH, the functional state of the gastrointestinal tract, concomitant diseases, etc.

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) in Post-Weaning Calves with Different Prevention Strategies and the Impact on Performance and Health Status.

Our study aimed to compare Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) morbidity, mortality, and growth in dairy and dairy beef cross-bred calves during the commingle period, 81-120 days of age, using two different BRD prevention strategies. The calves (n = 1799) were randomly assigned into groups: (1) Control (CON; received no vaccine or metaphylaxis); (2) Tulathromycin metaphylaxis (TUL; IncrexxaTM, Elanco Animal Health Inc., Greenfield, IN, USA); and (3) Mannheimia haemolytica vaccine (VACC; Nuplura® PH, Elanco Animal Health Inc., Greenfield, IN, USA). Calves were individually weighed three times during the study to estimate average daily gain (ADG). Deep nasopharyngeal swabs, thoracic ultrasonography, health scores, and treatment records were collected during the study. Ultrasound and health score results were not different across treatments. In this study, the TUL group had a lower cumulative BRD incidence than CON. The cumulative incidence and 95% CI of BRD during the commingle period, 81-120 days of age for CON, TUL, and VACC were 0.43 (0.38 to 0.47), 0.36 (0.38 to 0.40), and 0.39 (0.35 to 0.43), respectively. The ADG for CON, TUL, and VACC were 0.25 ± 0.15, 0.32 ± 0.15, and 0.17 ± 0.15 kg, respectively. There was no difference among the treatment groups for ADG. Management and environmental conditions were variable at this operation throughout the study period and likely impacted the calves. Earlier interventions may be needed when the BRD incidence is elevated in high-risk calves.

Cystoisospora spp. infection at a dog breeding facility in the Madrid region: Infection rate and clinical management based on toltrazuril metaphylaxis.

Canine coccidiosis caused by Cystoisospora canis and Cystoisospora ohioensis-complex is common in kennels. While often underestimated, coccidiosis may cause severe clinical signs in puppies and sometimes even lead to death, so preventative measures are important. This study examines Cystoisospora spp. infection at a Labrador retriever breeding facility in Madrid, Spain. To identify environmental factors associated with infection, dams were examined throughout a reproductive cycle (from oestrus to 60 days postpartum) and their puppies during their first 60 days of life. Also assessed was the efficacy of combined treatment with emodepside (0.9 mg/ml) and toltrazuril (18 mg/ml) at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg of weight, equivalent to 0.45 mg/kg and 9 mg/kg, respectively, in puppies on day 35 of life. Oocyst shedding was detected in 4.6-18.6% of 45 dams examined and in 2.2-9.1% of their litters (315 puppies). In both cases, peak opg elimination was recorded on day 30 postpartum/of life. The species of Cystoisospora detected were C. canis (91.3%) and C. ohioensis-complex (8.7%). While in both dams and puppies opg counts were higher in autumn when rainfall was at its highest, correlation between opg and rainfall emerged as significant only in puppies (p = 0.031). The treatment of 35 day-old puppies with toltrazuril was 100% effective in controlling this infection in the kennel. Our findings therefore suggest the need for a strict hygiene regime and the use of toltrazuril as blanket treatment to reduce Cystoisospora transmission in dog breeding facilities.

Antimicrobial Metaphylaxis and its Impact on Health, Performance, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Contextual Antimicrobial Use in High-Risk Beef Stocker Calves.

The objective of this blinded, cluster-randomized, complete block trial was to evaluate the impact of metaphylaxis on health, performance, antimicrobial resistance, and contextual antimicrobial use (AMU) in high-risk beef stocker calves. Calves (n = 155) were randomly assigned to receive either saline or tulathromycin at the time of arrival processing. Deep nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from each calf at arrival and 14 d later. Calves were monitored for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) for 42 d. Body weights were obtained at arrival, days 14, 28, and 42. Contextual antimicrobial use (AMU) was calculated using dose and mass-based metrics. Calves given tulathromycin had a greater average daily gain (0.96 ±â€…0.07 kg vs. 0.82 ±â€…0.07 kg; P = 0.034) and lower prevalence of BRD than controls (17% vs. 40%; P = 0.008). Proportions of calves with BRD pathogens identified at arrival were similar between treatment groups [17%; P = 0.94]. Proportions of calves with BRD pathogens identified at day 14 were lower for calves receiving tulathromycin compared to controls (15% vs. 60%, P < 0.001). Overall, 81% of Pastuerella multocida isolates and 47% of Mannheimia haemolytica isolates were pansusceptible. When measured as regimens per head in, AMU in calves receiving tulathromycin was higher than calves receiving saline (P = 0.01). Under the conditions of this study, metaphylaxis had positive impacts on the health and performance of high-risk beef stocker calves, did not contribute to the selection of resistant bacterial isolates in the nasopharynx of treated cattle, and increased AMU.

In this study, we investigated the impact of metaphyactic antimicrobial administration on health, performance, and antimicrobial use in high-risk beef stocker calves. Our findings demonstrated that metaphylaxis improves performance and has positive effects on animal health and well-being but increases total antimicrobial use. Additionally, our study revealed that metaphylaxis alone does not contribute to the selection of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in the upper airway of treated cattle.

Successful transfer of passive immunity: the natural alternative to antibiotics for boosting the survival of intensively reared dairy goat kids.

In dairy operations, antibiotics have traditionally been used to treat, prevent, and control diseases. However, given the mounting global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), farmers are urged to re-assess and reduce their reliance on antibiotics. Thus, this randomized, double-blinded cohort study aimed to estimate the prevalence of failed and successful transfer of passive immunity (FTPI and STPI) in dairy goat kids reared under commercial conditions, and the effects of antibiotic metaphylaxis on the pre-weaning (≤42 d old) mortality in FTPI and STPI kids. Plasma concentration of immunoglobulin G at 1d old (pIgG-24 h) was measured in 747 male Saanen kids for the determination of FTPI and STPI (pIgG-24 h < 12 and ≥12 g/L, respectively). Kids were then randomly divided into two groups: those receiving a single penicillin injection at 1 d old (PEN), and those receiving no treatment (CTR). The mean (±SD) pIgG-24 h and initial BW (IBW) were 17 ± 9.8 g/L and 4.1 ± 0.64 kg. The prevalence of FTPI was 29% (220/747 kids). Gastrointestinal complications were the primary cause of death (41%), followed by septicemia (22%) and arthritis (17%). A single penicillin injection reduced preweaning mortality by 55% (10 vs 22%, PEN vs CTR). However, results suggest that such a decline was mainly driven by the improved survival rates among FTPI kids, which increased by 19% (from 62% in CTR-FTPI to 82% in PEN-FTPI), as opposed to an 8% increase among STPI kids (from 85% in CTR-STPI to 93% in PEN-STPI). Additionally, the odds of mortality ≤ 42 d old were threefold higher in the CTR-FTPI group when compared to both the CTR-STPI and PEN-FTPI groups, suggesting a potential parity between STPI and PEN for mortality rate reduction. Taken together, the results indicate that although metaphylactic antibiotics can halve preweaning mortality, similar improvements are likely to be achieved via increased STPI rates. Furthermore, by targeting metaphylactic interventions to high-risk groups (i.e., those displaying signs of inadequate colostrum intake and/or low birth BW), farmers could reduce treatment costs and mitigate AMR risks. While these findings carry considerable weight for commercial dairy goat practices, their applicability to other systems (i.e., extensive, semi-intensive, mohair, meat systems) warrants further investigation.

[Digitalization and telerehabilitation]. / Digitalisierung und Telerehabilitation.

Digitalization and digitization are becoming increasingly more important in medicine. Processes are being optimized and data are being digitally recorded, analyzed and archived. Although there is still a comparatively large need to catch up in Germany, we are on a solid transformation path. The establishment of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) in Brussels represents a milestone for the secure exchange of data. Digitalization holds the potential for extensive process optimization. While a large part of the working time of physicians in German is currently consumed by bureaucracy, a relevant part of this can be solved digitally. The digitalization does not replace the physician but plays a supporting role for the benefit of the patient. Numerous routes and the associated transport and logistics costs can be avoided or addressed digitally through digital supplementation and new forms of treatment administration. This conserves resources, saves time and optimizes the care of patients. The openness and affinity of physicians and patients towards the topic significantly depends on digital health literacy, i.e. the understanding and knowledge on the topic. The goal for the coming years is to continually reduce fears and increase acceptance. In addition, relevant investments are needed for the basic technical equipment on the software and hardware side.