Intramuscular administration of ceftiofur sodium versus intramammary infusion of penicillin/novobiocin for treatment of Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis in dairy cows

Ronald J. Erskine From the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (Erskine, Bartlett, Halbert) and Michigan Milk Producers Association, Novi, MI 48376 (Johnson).

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 DVM, PhD
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Paul C. Bartlett From the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (Erskine, Bartlett, Halbert) and Michigan Milk Producers Association, Novi, MI 48376 (Johnson).

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Gilbert L. Johnson II From the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (Erskine, Bartlett, Halbert) and Michigan Milk Producers Association, Novi, MI 48376 (Johnson).

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Lisa W. Halbert From the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (Erskine, Bartlett, Halbert) and Michigan Milk Producers Association, Novi, MI 48376 (Johnson).

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Objective—

To determine the efficacy of intramuscular administration of ceftiofur sodium as treatment for intra-mammary infections attributable to Streptococcus agalac-tiae, compared with that for a standard treatment of intramammary infusion of penicillin/novobiocin.

Design—

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Animals—

72 lactating Holstein cows with intramammary infections caused by S agalactiae from 5 commercial dairies in Michigan.

Procedure—

In 36 of 72 infected cows, ceftiofur was administered (2.2 mg/kg of body weight, IM, q 24 h) for 5 days; 150 mg of novobiocin and 100,000 U of procaine penicillin G was infused daily into each mammary gland of the other 36 cows for 2 days. Milk samples were collected aseptically at approximately 4 and 8 weeks after initial treatment. If cows were determined to be infected at 4 weeks after initial treatment, the treatment was repeated.

Results—

The cure rate at 4 weeks (91.7%) and at 8 weeks (96.8%) after initial treatment for the penicillin/ novobiocin-treated cows was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher, compared with that of the ceftiofur-treated cows (2.8 and 9.1%, respectively). Somatic cell counts were significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in the penicillin/novobio-cin-treated group after treatment.

Clinical Implications—

Intramuscular administration of ceftiofur is not efficacious as a treatment to eliminate intramammary infections caused by S agalactiae and should not be used to reduce the prevalence of this organism in dairy herds. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996;208: 258-260)

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Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Issue:
15 Jan 1996
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