EFFICACY OF DOXYCYCLINE IN A GOAT MODEL OF PASTEURELLA PNEUMONIA

The clinical efficacy of doxycycline (Doxycen (R), Cenavisa, Spain), a long-acting preparation, was evaluated for treatment of Pasteurella h aemolytica infection in 6 goats. One goat was not infected and served as a control. The disease was induced by intratracheal inoculation of 10(7) to 10(9) cfu of P. haemolytica. Confirmation of respiratory dise ase was based on evidence of appropriate clinical signs. Before and af ter initiation of doxycycline treatment on day 10, each goat was exami ned daily. Three clinical responses to doxycycline treatment were note d. Mean rectal temperatures decreased from 40.1 degrees C to normal, w hile mean respiratory rate decreased from the pre-treatment value of 3 2 to 27/min after 4 days. Other clinical signs associated with pneumon ia resolved within 3-5 days post treatment. In addition the minimum in hibitory concentration of DOTC for the P. haemolytica isolate was foun d to be <0.5 mu g/me. The present study indicates that DOTC may be a u seful antimicrobial agent in the treatment of caprine pasteurellosis.