Clinical Efficacy of Rifampicin for Treatment of Canine Pyoderma

Sentürk S., E. Özel, A. Sen: Clinical Efficacy of Rifampicin for Treatment of Canine Pyoderma. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74: 117-122. In this study, the efficacy and field safety of rifampicin were evaluated in dogs with pyoderma. Clinical diagnoses of canine pyoderma were supported by bacteriologic cultures. 20 dogs with pyoderma were treated with rifampicin at a dose of 5 mg·kg-1 once daily for 10 days. Staphylococcus intermedius (40%) was isolated as the predominant pathogen. Serum GGT, ALT, urea, creatinine levels were assessed both before and after treatment for hepatic and renal effects of rifampicin. However, these parameters after treatment were not found to be statistically different compared with the values before treatment. While treatment was clinically successful in 18/20 (90%) dogs with pyoderma, poor improvement was noted in 2/20 (10%) dogs. Rifampicin was safe and effective for the treatment of canine pyoderma at the dosage used in this study. Staphylococcus intermedius, Dog, urea, Rifamycin Pyoderma is one of the most common causes and the most persistent of canine skin diseases worldwide (Ihrke 1987; Hil l and Moriel lo 1994). Lesions may be quite superficial and affect only the epidermis or may involve deeper structures in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue. The primary pathogen of superficial pyoderma cases involve Staphylococcus intermedius, a member of the normal flora in most dogs (Noble and Kent 1992; Hil l and Moriel lo 1994; Scot t et al. 1994; Ihrke 1996; Scot t et al. 1998). Also S. aureus is the causative organism (Harvey et al. 1996; Paradis et al. 2001). However, other causative organisms such as Proteus spp., Pseudomonas spp., E. coli, Actinomyces spp., Actinobacillus spp., Fusobacterium spp., and Mycobacterium spp. can occur deep pyoderma (Debouer 1995; Scot t et al. 1995; Paradis et al. 2001). Deep pyodermas do not occur spontaneously in normal dogs. Deep skin infections are generally the continuation of a superficial infection (Ihrke 1987; Scot t et al. 1995; Papich 1995). In therapy of canine pyoderma, the selected antibiotic should have good skin penetration and be active against Staphylococcus spp. (especially, S. intermedius). In addition, the antibiotic selected depends on the type of infection, efficacy, and safety profile. The antibiotic chosen ideally should not be inactivated by penicillinase (Ihrke 1987; Hil l and Moriel lo 1994; DeBouer 1995; Papich 1995; White 1996; Li t t lewood et al. 1999). Rifampicin is essential for short-course chemotherapy in patients with active tuberculosis (Thornsberry et al.1983; Molavi 1990). Rifampicin in combination with doxycycline has been recommended in treatment of brucellosis in dogs (Mateu-de-Antonio and Mart in 1995). Rifampicin has the unusual advantage of being able to penetrate tissues extremely well, even going intracellularly (Lobo and Mandel l 1972; Bergan 1981; Molavi 1990; Frank 1990). This unique ability to penetrate tissues and cells so well, along with the usual sensitivity of susceptible staphylococci to small concentration of the drug, makes rifampicin an effective antibiotic. Rifampicin may be chosen in deep pyoderma and ACTA VET. BRNO 2005, 74: 117-122 Address for correspondence: S. Sentürk Department of Internal Medicine Veterinary Faculty Uludag University 16190 Bursa TURKEY Phone: 0090 224 234 76 55 Fax: 0090 224 234 63 95 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.vfu.cz/acta-vet/actavet.htm