Sensitivity of the initiators of acute catarrhal bronchopneumonia in calves to antibiotics and phytobiotics

Antimicrobial activity of antibacterial agents (benzylpenicillin, methicillin, amoxicillin, cefazolin, ceftriaxone, cefquinome, cefepime, gentamicin, tylosin, lincomycin, enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin) and herbal medicines (extracts ofEleutherococcus,Echinacea purpureaandHypericum perforatum) was studied. The purpose of the research was to determine sensitivity to antibiotics and phytobiotics in microorganisms isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from calves with acute catarrhal bronchopneumonia. Calves with acute catarrhal bronchopneumonia (n= 37) aged 13 months were studied in the research. Bronchoalveolar lavage was collected into sterile test tubes from sick calves using silicone sterile catheter. Bacteriological studies were carried out in LLC Vettest, using generally accepted methods. Determining the sensitivity of isolated opportunistic microorganisms to antibacterial drugs showed that the vast majority of them have rather low efficiency. It was found that all 115 isolated microorganisms were sensitive only to three antibacterial drugs: fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotics cefquinome and cephepime, and third-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic marbofloxacin. Of the phytobiotics studied,Hypericum perforatumextract had the most pronounced antimicrobial properties against the main initiators of acute catarrhal bronchopneumonia in the calves. Moreover, it showeda more powerful antimicrobial effect against gram-positive bacteria. This makes it possible to use it widely in complex therapy in calves.