Evaluation of Various Antibiotic Treatments in Calves with Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis

Authors: MURAT KİBAR, K. SEMİH GÜMÜŞSOY, AHMET ÖZTÜRK

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether subconjunctival administration of enrofloxacin could ameliorate a herd outbreak of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) and to compare the efficacy of this regimen with the efficacy of subconjunctival administration of a combination of penicillin+streptomycin. The calves were assigned to 1 of 3 groups at the beginning of the study, and were examined 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. Calves in group 1 (n = 12) were treated with the subconjunctival administration of a combination of penicillin+streptomycin. This treatment consisted of 3 subconjunctival injections of penicillin+streptomycin every 48 h. Calves in group 2 (n = 13) were treated with subconjunctival administration of enrofloxacin, which consisted of 3 subconjunctival injections of enrofloxacin (30 mg) every 48 h. Calves in group 3 (n = 13) were not treated and were used as controls. Mean time for healing of corneal ulcers and amelioration of clinical signs was significantly less for calves that received enrofloxacin or penicillin+streptomycin than for the untreated controls. In conclusion, subconjunctival administration of enrofloxacin appears to be an effective method of reducing the severity of a herd outbreak of IBK and may be superior to treatment with penicillin+streptomycin.

Keywords: Keratoconjunctivitis, enrofloxacin, calf

Full Text: PDF