TABLE 1.
Criteria for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic decisions used in the clinical triala
| Health condition | Clinical sign(s) | Score | Therapeutic choice(s)
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonantimicrobial | Antimicrobialb | |||
| Diarrhea | Formed | 0 | ||
| Semiformed | 1 | |||
| Watery | 2 | Bismuth, Kaolin-Pectin | Ceftiofurc | |
| Watery with mucus | 3 | Kaolin-Pectin | Ceftiofurc | |
| Blood in feces | 4 | Kaolin-Pectin, UAA | Ceftiofurc | |
| Respiratory signs | Normal | 0 | ||
| Rhinitis | 1 | |||
| Coughing | 2 | Ceftiofurc | ||
| Heavy thoracic breathing | 3 | Ceftiofur | ||
| Abdominal breathing | 4 | Ceftiofur | ||
| Dehydration | Normal appearance | 0 | ||
| Sunken eyes | 1 | Electrolytesb | ||
| Skin tented 5-10 s | 2 | Electrolytes | ||
| Skin tented >10 s | 3 | Electrolytes | ||
| Attitude | Alert | 0 | ||
| Depressed | 1 | Flunixine meglumine | ||
| Nonresponsive | 2 | Flunixine meglumine | ||
| Appetite | Normal | 0 | ||
| Consuming <3/4 bottle | 1 | |||
| Eye appearance | Normal | 0 | ||
| Swelling/redness/discharge | 1 | Penicillin G, subconjunctival | ||
| Umbilicus/joints | Normal | 0 | ||
| Swelling/heat/pain/lameness | 1 | Iodine, topical | Penicillin G | |
| Normal | 0 | |||
| Otitis | Head tilt, hanging head | 1 | Tilmicosin | |
a
The clinical trial assessed the influence of antimicrobial use in milk replacer and as disease therapy in 120 preweaned calves on antimicrobial susceptibility in fecal commensal Escherichia coli.
b
Treatment was initiated if clinical sign was combined with appetite loss, depressed attitude, or multiple diagnosis.
c
Ceftiofur dose, 2.2 mg/kg/day for 3 to 5 days; penicillin G, 300,000 IU/ml, 2.2 ml/100 kg/day for 1 to 3 days; tilmicosin, 10 mg/kg/day for 3 days.