Efficacy of spiramycin treatment in subclinical and clinically manifested Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in the udder of lactating cows
Ziv, G.; Storper, M.
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 126(9): 479-487
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 6494877 Document Number: 239311
The efficacy of a single intramammary infusion of a proprietary preparation containing 1.22 g spiramycin adipate/10 ml in eliminating S. aureus infection in lactating cows was examined. A recovery rate of 62.5% was obtained in 48 quarters of 24 cows with a subclinical S. aureus mastitis already unsuccessfully treated with cloxacillin. Treatment efficacy was age-dependent ranging between 85.7% in first lactation cows and 42.9% in fifth and sixth lactation cows. Good clinical improvement was observed in all 10 cases of clinical S. aureus mastitis, and the bacteriological cure rate was 60%. Among 21 clinical cases treated with spiramycin, 5 failed to improve 48 hours after, requiring additional therapy. It is concluded that the intramammary spiramycin treatment of lactating cows is costly because of the relatively long excretion of the antibiotic with the milk, and therefore long withholding time, but is justified by its therapeutic success.