Efficacy of gallium maltolate against Lawsonia intracellularis infection in a rabbit model.
Abstract: Antimicrobial efficacy against Lawsonia intracellularis is difficult to evaluate in vitro, thus, the effects of gallium maltolate's (GaM) were investigated in a rabbit model for equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). Juvenile (5-6-week-old) does were infected with 3.0 × 10(8) L. intracellularis/rabbit and allocated into three groups (n = 8). One week postinfection, one group was treated with GaM, 50 mg/kg; one, with doxycycline, 5 mg/kg; and one with a sham-treatment (control). Feces and blood were collected daily and weekly, respectively, to verify presence of L. intracellularis fecal shedding using qPCR, and seroconversion using immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. Rabbits were sacrificed after 1 week of treatment to collect intestinal tissues focusing on EPE-affected sections. Intestinal lesions were confirmed via immunohistochemistry. No difference was noted between treatments regarding EPE-lesions in jejunum (P = 0.51), ileum (P = 0.74), and cecum (P = 0.35), or in L. intracellularis fecal shedding (P = 0.64). GaM and doxycycline appear to have similar efficacy against EPE in infected rabbits.
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2014-04-15 PubMed ID: 24730377DOI: 10.1111/jvp.12132Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The study investigates the effects of gallium maltolate (GaM) against a bacterial infection caused by Lawsonia intracellularis in rabbits, with results suggesting similar effectiveness between GaM and a standard antibiotic treatment, doxycycline.
Objective of the study
- The research aims to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of gallium maltolate (GaM) against the bacterial infection caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. Direct evaluation of GaM’s efficacy against this bacterium has been proven difficult in vitro (laboratory conditions), so the study employs an in vivo (in living organisms) model, using infected rabbits as a simulation for equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) – a disease caused in horses by this bacteria.
Methodology
- Juvenile rabbits were infected with Lawsonia intracellularis and then divided into three groups, consisting of eight rabbits each.
- One week following infection, the three groups were respectively treated with gallium maltolate, doxycycline (a standard antibiotic for the infection), and a sham treatment (control group).
- To track the progression of the infection, feces and blood samples were regularly collected and analysed using specific diagnostic tests. The presence of the bacteria and the body’s immune response were monitored through these analyses.
- After a week of treatment, the rabbits were euthanized to obtain intestinal tissues, particularly focusing on the sections that EPE most commonly affects.
Results
- The research revealed no statistically significant difference between the effects of gallium maltolate and doxycycline treatment on EPE-specific lesions in the jejunum, ileum, and cecum sections of the intestines (with p-values of 0.51, 0.74, and 0.35, respectively).
- Similarly, no difference was found in the presence of L. intracellularis in feces (p= 0.64), indicating that both treatments had comparable effects on bacterial shedding.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that gallium maltolate and doxycycline appear to have similar efficacy against EPE in rabbits infected with Lawsonia intracellularis. Therefore, gallium maltolate may offer another potential treatment method for this bacterial infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Sampieri F, Allen AL, Alcorn J, Clark CR, Vannucci FA, Pusterla N, Mapes SM, Ball KR, Dowling PM, Thompson J, Bernstein LR, Gebhart CJ, Hamilton DL.
(2014).
Efficacy of gallium maltolate against Lawsonia intracellularis infection in a rabbit model.
J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 37(6), 571-578.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.12132 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / drug therapy
- Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / microbiology
- Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / pathology
- Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / veterinary
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Lawsonia Bacteria / drug effects
- Organometallic Compounds / therapeutic use
- Pyrones / therapeutic use
- Rabbits
- Treatment Outcome
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
