EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVNESS OF THE COMBINED ANTIBACTERIAL DRUG IN THE TREATMENT OF BACTERIAL DISEASES IN CALVES

In the context of the constantly increasing resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics, the study of combined antibacterial drugs is relevant, since, due to their synergistic action, they have the potential to reduce the probability of developing bacterial resistance, providing a more pronounced therapeutic effect. The high synergistic bactericidal effect of the drug «Riketron N» (injection solution) is ensured by its active ingredients – sodium sulfadimidine and trimethoprim, which block consecutive stages of tetrahydrofolic acid synthesis, essential for the growth of microorganisms. This allows it to be used for the treatment of diseases of the digestive, respiratory, genitourinary systems, skin and hooves, the pathogens of which are gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as Eimeria. The article presents the results of a clinical study on the effectiveness and safety of the drug «Riketron N» (injection solution), produced by LIVISTO S.A. de C.V. (Spain), in the treatment of cattle diseases, caused by pathogens sensitive to the drug's active ingredients. The study was conducted on Simmental calves, in which signs of inflammatory respiratory tract damage was detected. An analysis of anamnesis data, clinical-diagnostic examination, and microbiological examination of the selected nasal exudate confirmed a diagnosis of pasteurellosis in calves. Based on the analysis of anamnestic data, clinical-diagnostic examination and microbiological study of nasal discharges in sick calves, bronchopneumonia of bacterial etiology caused by Pasteurella multocida, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus was diagnosed. In the vast majority of cases, the disease occurred as a monoinfection. Animals of the experimental group received the study drug intramuscularly for 5 days: on the first day - 1 ml of the drug per 10 kg of body weight, on the following days – 1 ml of the drug per 15 kg of body weight; the control group – healthy animals that didn’t receive treatment. Within a month from the beginning of the experiment, the clinical state condition of the calves was observed. Morphological and biochemical blood parameters of the blood of animals of both groups were examined before and on the 7th day after the treatment. Hematological tests were conducted using the automatic analyzer Mythic 18, while biochemical tests were carried out using the semi-automatic biochemical analyzer HumaLyzer 3000 and test kits from Human. The obtained results were analyzed statistically. The drug «Riketron N» (injection solution) demonstrated its effectiveness in the treatment of bronchopneumonia of bacterial etiology in calves caused by microorganisms sensitive to the drug’s active ingredients. In the animals of the experimental group, positive dynamics of clinical symptoms and normalization of morphological and biochemical blood parameters were observed after the end of the treatment course. When using the studied drug in the method of administration and dosage recommended by the manufacturer, no adverse reactions, hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic effects were detected.