PILOT EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF CEFTIOFUR SODIUM FOR THE CONTROL OF COLIBACILLOSIS IN NEONATAL SWINE

摘要

Neonatal piglet diarrhea occurring in the first few days of life (0-4 days) is commonly caused by an E. coli infection in the jejunum and ileum. The disease is economically important to the swine industry due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Causative strains adhere to the epithelium of the small intestine with fimbrial adhesions and produce one or more enterotoxins, which change the water and electrolyte balance in the small intestine. This can lead to diarrhea if theexcess efflux is not absorbed in the large intestine. Antibiotic therapy is indicated for the treatment of neonatal diarrhea caused by E. coli (1). Ceftiofur hydrochloride has been shown to be an effective treatment for induced colibacillosis in neonatal piglets (2, 3). Ceftiofur sodium has been shown to be effective in reducing mortality and improving performance of preweaned piglets (4). This pilot study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of ceftiofur sodium administered IM for three consecutive days at 3 or 5 mg ceftiofur equivalents (CE)/kg for the control of mortality associated with induced neonatal colibacillosis in swine.