Randomised control trial of NSAID and antimicrobial treatments for pyrexia caused by bovine respiratory disease

摘要

A randomised control trial was used to assess the efficacy of four different treatment methods for bovine respiratory disease (BRD); Group 1 received 2 mg/kg flunixin meglumine (Allevinix, Merial) for three consecutive days. Group 2 received 6 mg/kg gamithromycin (Zactran, Merial). Group 3 received both flunixin meglumine for three days and gamithromycin. Group 4 were monitored for a further 48 hours, and if pyrexia was still present they were treated as per Group 3. Three hundred and thirty-two pre-weaning calves were followed, with BRD detected by the identification of pyrexia (&= 39.7 degrees C) using a continuous monitoring temperature probe FeverTag. Upon pyrexia detection, the calves underwent a modified Wisonsin-Madison calf health scoring system to ensure that BRD was the initiating cause of the pyrexia, and to record the presence of any clinical signs. Calves were then randomly allocated to a treatment group.