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Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(2); 385-396; doi: 10.1111/evj.13295

Fluoroquinolone exposure in utero did not affect articular cartilage of resulting foals.

Abstract: Recent studies have shown that fluoroquinolones, specifically, enrofloxacin and its active metabolite (ciprofloxacin), cross the equine placenta without causing gross or histological lesions in the first and third trimester fetuses or resulting foal. However, it is possible that in utero exposure to fluoroquinolones may cause subtle lesions not detectable by standard means; thus, a more in-depth assessment of potential toxicity is warranted. Objective: To use quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI), biomechanical testing, and chondrocyte gene expression to evaluate the limbs of foals exposed to enrofloxacin during the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: In vivo and control terminal experiment. Methods: Healthy mares at 280 days gestation were assigned into three groups: untreated (n = 5), recommended therapeutic (7.5 mg/kg enrofloxacin, PO, SID, n = 6) or supratherapeutic (15 mg/kg, PO, SID, n = 6) doses for 14 days. Mares carried and delivered to term and nursed their foals for ~30 days. Two additional healthy foals born from untreated mares were treated post-natally with enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg PO, SID, for 5 days). By 30 days, foal stifles, hocks, elbows, and shoulders were radiographed, foals were subjected to euthanasia, and foal limbs were analysed by quantitative MRI, structural MRI, biomechanical testing and chondrocyte gene expression. Results: Osteochondral lesions were detected with both radiography and structural MRI in foals from both enrofloxacin-treated and untreated mares. Severe cartilage erosions, synovitis and joint capsular thickening were identified in foals treated with enrofloxacin post-natally. Median cartilage T2 relaxation times differed between joints but did not differ between treatment groups. Conclusions: A small sample size was assessed and there was no long-term follow-up. Conclusions: While further research is needed to address long-term foal outcomes, no differences were seen in advanced imaging, biomechanical testing or gene expression by 30 days of age, suggesting that enrofloxacin may be a safe and useful antibiotic for select bacterial infections in pregnant mares.
© 2020 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-20 PubMed ID: 32479667DOI: 10.1111/evj.13295Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research investigated whether exposure to fluoroquinolones, specifically enrofloxacin (an antibiotic), in utero affects the joint cartilage of foals. Though subtle lesions were not detectable by regular means, a more detailed analysis showed no major impacts on joint structure, suggesting it may be safe to administer enrofloxacin to pregnant mares.

Methodology

  • The study included healthy mares at 280 days gestation which were then split into three groups: untreated, recommended therapeutic, and supratherapeutic doses of enrofloxacin treatment.
  • The medication was administered orally daily for a period of 14 days.
  • Separately, two foals born from untreated mares received a post-natal treatment of enrofloxacin.
  • Mares carried and delivered the foals, which remained with the mares for about 30 days.

Post-Natal Testing

  • After reaching 30 days old, the foals underwent various limb assessments.
  • Radiographs were taken of stifles, hocks, elbows, and shoulders of the foals.
  • The foals were then euthanized and their limb tissues were further examined via quantitative and structural MRI, biomechanical testing, and chondrocyte gene expression analysis.

Findings

  • Inflicted osteochondral lesions were discovered in foals from both the enrofloxacin-treated and untreated groups, discovered through radiography and structural MRI.
  • Severe cartilage erosions, synovitis, and joint capsular thickening were identified in foals that were treated with enrofloxacin post-natally.
  • Median cartilage T2 relaxation times, which reflect cartilage health, varied among joints but didn’t differ between the treatment groups.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that while the sample size was small and lacked long-term follow-up, there was no difference detected in advanced imaging, biomechanical testing, or gene expression by 30 days of age between foals exposed to enrofloxacin in utero and those who were not.
  • This suggests enrofloxacin could be a safe and useful antibiotic to treat selected bacterial infections in pregnant mares, but further research is needed to confirm these outcomes in the long term.

Cite This Article

APA
Ellerbrock RE, Canisso IF, Larsen RJ, Garrett KS, Stewart MC, Herzog KK, Kersh ME, Moshage SG, Podico G, Lima FS, Childs BA. (2020). Fluoroquinolone exposure in utero did not affect articular cartilage of resulting foals. Equine Vet J, 53(2), 385-396. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13295

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Pages: 385-396

Researcher Affiliations

Ellerbrock, Robyn E
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
  • Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Canisso, Igor F
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
  • Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Larsen, Ryan J
  • Beckman Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Garrett, Katherine S
  • Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, KY, USA.
Stewart, Matthew C
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Herzog, Kalyn K
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
  • Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Kersh, Mariana E
  • Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Moshage, Sara G
  • Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Podico, Giorgia
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
  • Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Lima, Fabio S
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Childs, Bronwen A
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / toxicity
  • Cartilage, Articular
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Enrofloxacin
  • Female
  • Fluoroquinolones / toxicity
  • Horses
  • Pregnancy

Grant Funding

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
  • Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
  • University of Illinois

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This article includes 28 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Xiang DC, Xie WL, Cheng GY, Yue M, Du XY, Jiang J. Pregnancy related adverse events and congenital disorders associated with fluoroquinolones: A real-world pharmacovigilance study of the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS). Heliyon 2024 Sep 30;10(18):e37547.
    doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37547pubmed: 39309803google scholar: lookup
  2. Du J, Liu Q, Pan Y, Xu S, Li H, Tang J. The Research Status, Potential Hazards and Toxicological Mechanisms of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics in the Environment. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Jun 15;12(6).
    doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12061058pubmed: 37370377google scholar: lookup
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