17 July 2013

2 minute read

North America

For vets seeking to prescribe an alternative first-choice tube, independent mastitis authority Dr Andrew Bradley suggests it could be a logical, efficacious option, offering the combination of two active ingredients (lincomycin and neomycin) not available in other intramammary tubes.¹

In combination, these have been found to have much higher efficacy than the sum of the two parts against Staphylococci aureus.^2&3 It is effective against Gram positive and Gram negative pathogens, in particular staphylococcus, streptococcus and coliform bacteria.

In trials, this treatment produced clinical cure rates 21 per cent higher than an ampicillin-cloxacillin comparison in undifferentiated mastitis cases. As first choice treatment for S uberis clinical mastitis, bacteriological cure rates were similar to a penicillin-streptomycin comparison.⁴ Against S aureus, aesculin-positive streptococci, and E coli, combined clinical-bacteriological cure rates were 175 per cent [one hundred and seventy five percent], 32 per cent and 21 per cent higher respectively with Lincocin Forte S than ampicillin-cloxacillin treatment.

These findings underpin the treatment's relaunch and its suitability as a first choice therapy for new clinical mastitis cases, according to Zoetis vet Jude Roberts. Unusually for an intramammary tube, Lincocin Forte S is a water-based formulation, which she says helps achieve good distribution in the udder and can be easier to infuse that oil-based tubes, particularly into hardened quarters associated with E coli infections.

Dr Bradley adds that water-based formulation is likely to be less irritant to udder tissues than oil-based tubes, and may improve distribution. He also suggests that "not being a fluoroquinolone or 3rd/4th generation cephalosporin may also help vets fulfil their 'appropriate and justified' prescribing responsibilities."

The recommended treatment is one 10ml syringe per infected quarter at each of three consecutive milkings. Milk from treated cows can be sold for human consumption 84-hours after the last treatment.

References:

1 Dr Andrew Bradley, 15 April 2013. Personal communication.
2 Deluyker et al (1997). Technical Report 804-9690-97-002.
3 De Oliveira et al (2000). J Dairy Sci, pp855-862.
4 McDougall (2003). New Zealand Veterinary Journal, pp 111-116.