The treatment and prevention of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis using antimicrobial drugs

Abstract

Bovine pneumonic pasteurehosis (BPP, shipping/transit fever) is a disease of great economic importance, particularly in North America and Britain where it has caused great losses since before the 1890s (Nocard, 1892; Wiiams, 1892, Sinha and Abinanti, 1%2; Yates, 1982, Gibbs, 1985; Sehnan et al., 1986). In the early part of this century, Hoare (1913) expressed his disappointment concerning the treatment of pneumonia in animals. He stated that there was no specific treatment for this condition and that ah attempts at ‘heroic measures and promiscuous drugging’ had proven to be useless, injurious to the patient or prejudicial to their chances of recovery. Preparations such as ammonium acetate solution, tincture of belladonna and linseed oil, all administered as a drench (orahy), had been recommended by Armatage (1892) for the treatment of bovine pneumonia. It was not until the late 1930s that the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in animals and man was revolution&d following the discovery of antibiotics and sulphonamides. This review focusses on the treatment and prevention of BPP using antimicrobial drugs. The emergence of Pasteurella resistant to antimicrobial drugs is also considered.