Evaluation of tulathromycin as an antimicrobial therapy in the caprine species

Abstract

The number of antimicrobials available to treat bacterial respiratory disease in goats is extremely limited. Currently, only ceftiofur has been approved for use in this species. Concerns over the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that infect humans have led to proposed restrictions on the use of this drug in food-producing animals. Tulathromycin, a triamilide macrolide antibiotic found to be safe and effective against respiratory bacterial pathogens in cattle and swine, was formulated to enhance persistence in lung tissue. The Minor Use Animal Drug Program (National Research Support Project-7) identifies and supports research directed at meeting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for drug approval in minor species or for minor uses in major species. The current work was undertaken to support FDA approval of tulathromycin in the caprine species by providing an assessment of target animal drug safety, drug tissue elimination, and drug efficacy. Tulathromycin had no detrimental clinical effects, even in animals treated with 5X the proposed label dose for three times the proposed label duration. Tissue elimination and pharmacokinetic behavior paralleled that found in both cattle and swine. Efficacy analysis was conducted on the clinical effect and pharmacokinetic behavior of tulathromycin in goats as well as in vitro antimicrobial effects on bacterial isolates recovered from goats. Bacteria isolated from goats with clinical cases of pneumonia were highly susceptible to this drug in several in vitro assays. Overall, this research demonstrated that tulathromycin would be a safe, effective, and valuable medication in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in goats. 1 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in lactating goats ( Capra hircus ) and its quantification in milk after a single intravenous and intramuscular injection

“…Due to the lower number of goats compared to the other livestock species their health issues cannot be addressed with EMA or FDA-approved medications. Consequently, many drugs are administered to goats in an extra-label manner with no scientific information on drug behaviour, potential toxicity, and adequate withdrawal periods for drug removal from products marketed for human consumption (Clothier, 2010).…”