EFFECTS OF KETOPROFEN AND FLUNIXIN IN PIGS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH ACTINOBACILLUS-PLEUROPNEUMONIAE

The antipyretic effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (N SAIDs) ketoprofen (3 mg/kg) and flunixin (2 mg/kg) were studied in pig s. The drugs were administered intramuscularly at 8 and 32 h following endobronchial challenge with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Infecte d (non-medicated) and non-infected (non-medicated) controls were used. Endobronchial challenge with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae induced laboured breathing, coughing, fever, reduced food and water consumptio n and increased white blood cell counts. At autopsy, pleuropneumonia w as evident. Ketoprofen showed a highly significant antipyretic effect but flunixin did not. The decrease in food consumption of ketoprofen-t reated pigs was significantly less than that of the infected (non-medi cated) controls. Blood parameters were not significantly influenced by either NSAID and, at necropsy, gastric and renal side-effects were no t observed for either drug.