Clinical-pathological findings of otitis media and media-interna in calves and (clinical) evaluation of a standardized therapeutic protocol

Abstract

BackgroundThe aims of this field trial were to describe the clinical-pathologic findings in calves with otitis media (OM) and media-interna (OMI), to evaluate, through the development of a scoring system, the effectiveness of a standardized therapeutic protocol, and to identify the causative pathogens and their possible correlation with concurrent respiratory disease. All animals underwent physical and neurological examinations at three experimental time points: at diagnosis/beginning of treatment (T0), 1 week (T1) and 2 weeks (T2) after therapy was started, respectively. Follow-up telephone interviews with animal owners were conducted 1 month later. The therapeutic protocol consisted of tulathromycin (Draxxin®; Zoetis), oxytetracycline hydrochloride (Terramicina 100®; Zoetis), and carprofen (Rimadyl®; Zoetis).ResultsTwenty-two calves were enrolled. Physical and otoscopic examination at T0 revealed monolateral and bilateral otorrhea in 16 and 6 calves, respectively, with peripheral vestibular system involvement in calves presenting with neurological signs (n = 17; 77 %). A significant improvement of clinical and neurological scores was observed in 20 (90 %) calves, a full recovery in only 1 (5 %). One calf worsened between T0 and T1 and it was removed from the study. None of the other animals showed a worsening of clinical conditions and/or required further treatments at one month follow up. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated in 89 % of the affected ears either alone or together with P. multocida (n = 5), Streptococcus spp. (n = 1), Staphylococcus spp. (n = 1), and Pseudomonas spp. (n = 1). M. bovis either alone or together with these bacteria was also isolated from the upper and/or lower respiratory tract in 19 (86 %) calves.ConclusionsThis is the first prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized therapeutic protocol for the treatment of OM/OMI in calves. The therapy led to clinical improvement in the majority of the calves. Persistence of mild clinical-neurological signs did not compromise productive performance. The numerical scoring system for clinical and neurological signs permitted objective evaluation of response to therapy. M. bovis was the pathogen most often isolated. This finding should be considered in the treatment of OM/OMI in calves. Moreover, respiratory tract infection should not be underrated, since it is one of the major risk factors for the development of OM/OMI.

Comparison of antimicrobial prescription patterns in calves in Switzerland before and after the launch of online guidelines for prudent antimicrobial use

“…Unfortunately, our results indicate that HPCIAs are commonly used to treat otitis. Mycoplasma bovis is mainly found in otitis in calves and the chosen antibiotic has to cover this pathogen [ 41 , 54 , 57 ]. Tetracyclines are suggested as first line antimicrobials by the guidelines, but their efficacy may be limited by resistances [ 7 – 9 ].…”

Characterization of the upper and lower respiratory tract microbiota in Piedmontese calves

“…Unfortunately, in this study, the lack of information about Mycoplasma species present in the TTA samples precludes formulating a hypothesis about their pathogenetic role. Although M. bovis is recognized as a major etiologic agent in BRD and otitis media, less is known about other Mycoplasma spp., e.g., M. dispar and M. bovirhinis , which have been detected less frequently in the bovine respiratory tract [ 23 , 24 , 44 – 47 ]. It has been suggested that the lack of isolation of these two species could be correlated with an inhibitory effect of other mycoplasmas [ 24 , 48 ].…”

Laser Photobiomodulation and Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Ovine Otitis

“…Inflammation and chronic infections often become difficult to treat, as in the case of this animal, which had already been wrongly treated with 10% iodine solution as an antiseptic in the auricular pavilion, which can aggravate existing lesions due to a chemical lesion by iodine. Furthermore, the use of 20% oxytetracycline (Oxitetra 20% ® ) in sub-therapeutic doses and the short treatment period led to an ineffective result, as the treatment of otitis media is specific antibiotics used against the frequently isolated pathogens spread in the middle and inner ear, and the duration of therapy is influenced by the chronicity of the disease as well as the pathogens involved, ranging from five days to several weeks [11,17]. Due to aural hematoma and otalgia, photobiomodulation with infrared laser (808 nm) was initially prescribed for the treatment of inflammation and edema.…”