Abstract
The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam is commonly used as adjunct therapy for neonatal calf diarrhea to control pain and inflammation. The objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in diarrheic pre-ruminant dairy calves dosed either orally or subcutaneously. Twelve pre-ruminant male dairy calves with mild to moderate diarrhea were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments (three per group): subcutaneous meloxicam (SM, 0.5 mg/kg body weight); an oral bolus meloxicam suspension (OM, 1 mg/kg body weight); an oral meloxicam suspension added to a feeding of oral electrolytes (EM, 1 mg/kg body weight); and an oral meloxicam suspension added to a feeding of milk replacer (MM, 1 mg/kg body weight). The predicted pharmacokinetic parameters for OM, MM, EM, and SM groups were: half-life (56.8 ± 21.7 vs. 136.0 ± 26.6 vs. 85.2 ± 21.7 vs. 36.3 ± 21.7 h), Cmax (4.3 ± 0.4 vs. 3.7 ± 0.4 vs. 3.9 ± 0.4 vs. 2.1 ± 0.4 μg/mL), Tmax (13.3 ± 4.0 vs. 10.7 ± 4.0 vs. 13.3 ± 4.0 vs. 2.7 ± 4.0 h), and AUC0-∞ (383.4 ± 126.8 vs. 877.8 ± 155.3 vs. 457.1 ± 126.8 vs. 126.4 ± 126.8 h * μg/mL). Oral meloxicam, especially MM, had extended elimination phases relative to SM. All meloxicam therapies provided effective therapeutic levels but all oral therapies (1 mg/kg) provided longer durations of activity than injectable meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg).
Highlights
Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium parvum were the only pathogens diagnosed in cases of diarrhea
Most calves had diarrhea scores ≤ 3 and total clinical scores ≤ 4, and there were no differences between experimental groups (P > 0.05)
At the oral dose used in this study, animals in the MM, OM, and EM groups had substantially higher values for AUC, to reach maximum concentration (Tmax), and half-life relative to ruminant calves treated with oral meloxicam tablets [17]
Summary
The major pathogens responsible for diarrhea in pre-weaned dairy calves are rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, and Cryptosporidium parvum [2]. Some pathogens, such as E. coli, trigger enterocytes to secrete fluids into the intestine, while others (i.e. rotavirus, coronavirus) cause damage to the intestinal villi causing malabsorptive diarrhea [2]. Calves with diarrhea have reduced levels of activity and feed intakes [7]. These behaviors are likely related to the discomfort and inflammation associated with clinical diarrhea
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