Efficacy of florfenicol and flunixin followed with Vitamin E and/or C on selected oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms in young cattle under transport and adaptation stress

Abstract

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in cattle, due to the participation of numerous viral and bacterial etiological agents, predisposition factors, and environmental stresses, is a serious health and economic problem in herds of beef cattle. Given the broad scope of the problem of respiratory syndrome and the limited immunoprophylaxis, the aim of this study was to estimate the additive effects of flunixin with florfenicol followed with Vitamin E or/and C in reducing the development of oxidative stress and inflammation in the first weeks in the feedlot. The study was conducted on young Simmental cattle (n = 50) weighing approx. 160 kg. The animals were divided into 5 groups (n = 10 in each group). Group I was the control. The cattle received florfenicol and flunixin in combination with vitamins E or C (Group II and III), florfenicol and flunixin followed with Vitamin E and C (Group IV), or florfenicol and flunixin without vitamins (group V). Blood for sera was collected on the day the drugs were administered and on days 3, 7,14, 21 and 28 of the experiment. The level of oxidative stress was analysed on the basis of the concentration of nitrogen ions (NO) in the sera and of lipid peroxidation end products reacting with thiobarbituric acid (TBARS). Concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in the sera were determined using EIA enzyme immunoassays. The treatment used in the study, involving the application of florfenicol and flunixin with Vitamin E or C, substantially reduced the level of oxidative stress, expressed as a reduced concentration of TBARS and NO ions, particularly in groups II and III. It was also confirmed that the treatment inhibited the concentration of acute phase proteins (Hp and SAA).