ABSTRACT
Objective: to compare the field efficacy of Florfenicol with I Tilmicosin in the treatment of naturally occurring enzootic calf bronchopneumonia
Design: randomized controlled trial
Animals: a total of 70 Holstein calves between 1-6 months old in three daily farms of Mashhad suburb were used
Procedure: calves with visual signs of pneumonia were entered into the trial. After physical examination, clinical findings were recorded. They were weighed and blood samples collected by venipuncture. They were randomly assigned to received either Florfenicol [20 mg/kg bw, IM, 2 injections 48h apart, 35 calves] or Tilmicosin [10 mg/kg bw, SC, 1 injection, 35 calves]. Clinical I measures of efficacy-included mortality, rectal temperature, illness I index scores, assessment of treatment success or failure, and the number of relapses or reinfections. Also, hematological indices, total plasma protein and fibrinogen were studied on day 0 and day 4 after the treatment
Statistical analysis: independent t-test, Mann- Whitney and Chi- Square
Results: There were not any significant differences between two treatment groups [P>0.05]. Resolving clinical sings in Florfenicol and Tilmicosin treatments were, 88.5% [31 cases] and 85.7 % [30 cases] respectively, which were not statistically significant [P>0.05]. No significant adverse reaction was noticed with either drugs
Conclusion: results indicate that Florfenicol and Tilmicosin are comparable in the treatment of enzootic calf bronchopneumonia