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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Efficacy of gamithromycin for the treatment of foals with mi...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(1); 333-338; doi: 10.1111/jvim.12504

Efficacy of gamithromycin for the treatment of foals with mild to moderate bronchopneumonia.

Abstract: Gamithromycin is active in vitro against the bacterial agents most commonly associated with bronchopneumonia in older foals. However, the clinical efficacy and safety of this drug have not been investigated. Objective: Gamithromycin is effective for the treatment of bronchopneumonia in foals. Methods: One hundred and twenty-one foals on a farm endemic for infections caused by Rhodococcus equi. Methods: In a controlled, randomized, and double blinded clinical trial, foals with ultrasonographic evidence of pulmonary abscesses (abscess score 8.0-20 cm) were randomly allocated in 3 treatment groups: (1) gamithromycin IM q7 days (n = 40); (2) azithromycin with rifampin, PO q24h (n = 40); or (3) no antimicrobial treatment (controls; n = 41). Physical examination and thoracic ultrasonography were performed by individuals unaware of treatment group assignment. Foals that worsened were removed from the study. Results: The proportion of foals that recovered without the need to be removed from the study was significantly higher for foals treated with gamithromycin (38 of 40) or azithromycin with rifampin (39 of 40) than for controls (32 of 41). Treatment with gamithromycin or with azithromycin-rifampin resulted in a significantly faster decrease in the clinical score and abscess score compared to the controls. Adverse reactions characterized by colic (n = 18) and hind limb lameness (n = 14) were observed only in foals treated with gamithromycin. Conclusions: Gamithromycin was noninferior to azithromycin with rifampin for the treatment of bronchopneumonia in the study population but had a higher frequency of adverse reactions.
Copyright © 2015 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2015-01-27 PubMed ID: 25619521PubMed Central: PMC4858060DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12504Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

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 research studies gamithromycin’s effectiveness in treating bronchopneumonia in foals and found it equally effective as another treatment, Azithromycin with Rifampin, but with a higher rate of adverse reactions.

Research Methods

  • A controlled, randomized, and double-blinded clinical trial was designed with a focus on foals suffering from bronchopneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi, bacteria endemic to a specific farm.
  • The study involved 121 foals segmented into three groups: a gamithromycin treatment group (40 foals), an azithromycin with rifampin treatment group (40 foals), and a control group receiving no treatment (41 foals).
  • The selection was based on foals with ultrasonographic evidence of pulmonary abscesses. Physical examination and thoracic ultrasonography were conducted by individuals unaware of the treatment each foal was assigned to.
  • Foals whose condition worsened during the trial were removed from the study.

Results

  • The recovery rate of foals was notably higher in the gamithromycin and azithromycin with rifampin groups compared to the control group (38 and 39 out of 40, respectively, as opposed to 32 out of 41).
  • Both treatment groups exhibited a faster decrease in their clinical and abscess scores as compared to the control group.
  • Adverse reactions in the form of colic and hind limb lameness were recorded exclusively in the gamithromycin group (18 and 14 foals, respectively).

Conclusions

  • Overall, even though gamithromycin was found to be as effective as azithromycin with rifampin in treating bronchopneumonia in foals, it was also associated with a significantly higher incidence of adverse reactions.
  • The study implies that while gamithromycin is a viable treatment option, care should be taken given the potential for side effects.

Cite This Article

APA
Hildebrand F, Venner M, Giguère S. (2015). Efficacy of gamithromycin for the treatment of foals with mild to moderate bronchopneumonia. J Vet Intern Med, 29(1), 333-338. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12504

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 1
Pages: 333-338

Researcher Affiliations

Hildebrand, F
  • Equine Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany.
Venner, M
    Giguère, S

      MeSH Terms

      • Abscess / microbiology
      • Abscess / veterinary
      • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
      • Animals
      • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
      • Azithromycin / administration & dosage
      • Azithromycin / therapeutic use
      • Bronchopneumonia / drug therapy
      • Bronchopneumonia / veterinary
      • Double-Blind Method
      • Drug Therapy, Combination
      • Female
      • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
      • Horse Diseases / microbiology
      • Horses
      • Macrolides / therapeutic use
      • Male
      • Rhodococcus equi
      • Rifampin / administration & dosage
      • Rifampin / therapeutic use

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