Impact of respiratory disease, diarrhea, otitis and arthritis on mortality and carcass traits in white veal calves.

BACKGROUND: Little is known on the effects of common calf diseases on mortality and carcass traits in the white veal industry (special-fed veal), a highly integrated production system, currently criticized for the intensive pro- and metaphylactic use of antimicrobials. The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), diarrhea, arthritis and otitis on the economically important parameters of mortality, hot carcass weight (HCW), carcass quality, fat cover and meat color. For this purpose, a prospective study on 3519 white veal calves, housed in 10 commercial herds, was conducted. Case definitions were based on clinical observation by the producers and written treatment records were used. RESULTS: Calves received oral antimicrobial group treatments in the milk during 25.2% of the production time on average. With an increasing percentage of the production cycle spent on oral antimicrobials, HCW reduced, whereas the odds for insufficient fat cover or an undesirable red meat color both decreased. Of the calves, 14.8%, 5.3%, 1.5% and 1.6% were individually diagnosed and treated for BRD, diarrhea, arthritis and otitis, respectively. Overall, 5.7% of the calves died and the mortality risk was higher in the first weeks after arrival. Calves that experienced one BRD episode showed a 8.2 kg reduction in HCW, a lower fat cover and an increased mortality risk (hazard ratio (HR) = 5.5), compared to calves which were not individually diagnosed and treated for BRD. With an increasing number of BRD episodes, these losses increased dramatically. Additionally, calves, which experienced multiple BRD episodes, were more likely to have poor carcass quality and an undesirable red meat color at slaughter. Arthritis increased the mortality risk (HR = 3.9), and reduced HCW only when associated with BRD. Otitis did only increase the mortality risk (HR = 7.0). Diarrhea severely increased the mortality risk (HR = 11.0), reduced HCW by 9.2 kg on average and decreased carcass quality. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the massive use of group and individual treatments to alleviate the most prevalent health issues at the fattening period, the effects of BRD, diarrhea, otitis and arthritis on survival and performance are still considerable, especially in cases of chronic pneumonia with or without arthritis. Controlling calf health by effective preventive and therapeutic strategies and in particular the prevention of chronic BRD is key for the profitability of veal operations.

Coste real de la antibioticoterapia en las infecciones respiratorias altas en pediatría / Real cost of antibiotic treatment in upper respiratory infections in pediatrics

Introducción: el objetivo de este artículo es realizar un estudio comparativo entre los diferentes antibióticos orales indicados en las infecciones del tracto respiratorio superior y el coste real para cada rango de edad, teniendo en cuenta los preparados comerciales existentes. Material y métodos: se seleccionaron los antibióticos más usados en estas patologías (amoxicilina, amoxicilina-clavulánico, cefuroxima-axetilo, cefixima, eritromicina, claritromicina y azitromicina). Se establecieron seis rangos de peso (con intervalos de 5 kg) y se calculó para cada uno de ellos la cantidad total de antibiótico para cumplimentar el tratamiento. Para cada antibiótico, y de acuerdo con el Vademecum, se escogió el preparado comercial más económico. Resultados: se aprecia que para todos los rangos de edad el antibiótico más económico es la amoxicilina. El más caro en el rango de edad de 5 kg es la claritromicina, y para el resto de rangos de edad, la cefuroxima-axetilo. Discusión: es importante no olvidar que una vez satisfechas las otras premisas (eficacia, concentración en tejidos, efectos secundarios y cumplimiento), el coste económico es de suma importancia, puesto que hablamos de los fármacos más utilizados en Pediatría. Al iniciar un tratamiento antibiótico se debe tener en cuenta la edad del niño, el precio del fármaco y su presentación comercial a la hora de calcular el coste del tratamiento. Los fármacos más baratos de la práctica clínica habitual extrahospitalaria son la amoxicilina, eritromicina, azitromicina y amoxicilina-clavulánico (AU)