Effect of treatment with erythromycin and rifampin during the acute stages of experimentally induced equine ehrlichial colitis in ponies.
Abstract: Sixteen healthy ponies were inoculated IV with Ehrlichia risticii-infected P388D1 mouse monocytes. Of the 16 ponies, 15 developed clinical signs of equine ehrlichial colitis. Twenty-four hours after onset of fever (rectal temperature > 38.8 C), 7 ponies were treated with 25 mg of erythromycin stearate/kg of body weight and 10 mg of rifampin/kg, given orally every 12 hours for 5 days. The remaining 8 ill ponies served as nontreated controls. All ponies were observed for progression of clinical signs typical of equine ehrlichial colitis. Within 12 hours of initiation of treatment, 4 of the 7 treated ponies had rectal temperature < 38.4 C and, within 24 hours, 6 of the 7 ponies had rectal temperature 39.2 C at 24 hours (P < 0.05). Of the 7 treated ponies, 4 no longer had signs of mental depression after the second day of treatment, and only 1 of the 7 ponies had mild signs of depression after the third day of treatment. In contrast, control ponies had high mental depression score during the observation period (P < 0.05). Feed intake improved in ponies of the treatment group, with feed intake of 4 of the 7 ponies returning to normal; the other 3 ponies were only mildly anorectic by the second day of treatment. Control ponies progressively decreased their feed intake during the observation period (P < 0.05). One control pony and 2 treated ponies developed diarrhea before the treatment/observation period began. Only 1 treated pony developed diarrhea after treatment began. Of the 8 control ponies, 7 developed diarrhea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1992-11-01 PubMed ID: 1466503
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research examines the effects of treating equine ehrlichial colitis, a horse disease, with the antibiotics erythromycin and rifampin in its acute stages. Results suggest the treatment significantly reduces fever, mental depression, and improves feed uptake in ponies, compared to untreated control subjects.
Introduction and Methodology
- Equine ehrlichial colitis, caused by the Ehrlichia risticii bacteria, was artificially induced in 16 healthy ponies.
- IV injection of the bacteria was carried out, and 15 of the 16 ponies showed clinical signs of the disease.
- Seven ponies received a treatment of erythromycin stearate and rifampin orally, every 12 hours for a duration of 5 days. The remainder were untreated and used as control subjects.
- All ponies, treated and untreated, were monitored for progression of the disease’s symptoms.
Results
- In ponies that were treated, rectal temperature fell below 38.4 C for 4 out of 7 ponies within 12 hours of treatment initiation. Within 24 hours, 6 out of 7 treated ponies reported temperatures below 38.3 C.
- In comparison, control ponies all exhibited temperatures above 39.2 C after 24 hours, indicating the effectiveness of the treatment in controlling fever.
- Most treated ponies (4 out of 7) did not show signs of mental depression after the second day of medication, while one exhibited mild signs of depression after the third day of treatment.
- Control ponies demonstrated noticeable mental depression throughout the observation period, reinforcing the positive impact of the treatment.
- Feed intake in treated ponies improved during the treatment, with 4 out of 7 ponies showing normal eating habits while the others were mildly anorectic by the second day of treatment.
- In contrast, control ponies experienced decreasing feed intake during the same period, further confirming the treatment’s efficacy in managing symptoms.
Conclusion
- The results of this study point towards the potential effectiveness of treating equine ehrlichial colitis during its acute stages with erythromycin and rifampin.
- This treatment method appears to significantly reduce symptoms such as fever, mental depression, and lack of appetite, thereby improving the well-being of the affected ponies.
Cite This Article
APA
Palmer JE, Benson CE.
(1992).
Effect of treatment with erythromycin and rifampin during the acute stages of experimentally induced equine ehrlichial colitis in ponies.
Am J Vet Res, 53(11), 2071-2076.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Animals
- Colitis / drug therapy
- Colitis / microbiology
- Colitis / physiopathology
- Colitis / veterinary
- Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use
- Eating
- Ehrlichiosis / drug therapy
- Ehrlichiosis / physiopathology
- Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
- Erythromycin / therapeutic use
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Rifampin / therapeutic use
Citations
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