VETERINARY TREATMENT

Abstract: A formulation comprising amoxycillin or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, clavulanic acid or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, and a veterinarily acceptable carrier is used in the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis in lambs or sheep.

Description: Veterinary Treatment This invention relates to a method for the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis in animals, particularly in lambs and sheep. GB-B-2 005 538 describes a dry pharmaceutical composition, which comprises 20mg to 1500mg of amoxycillin trihydrate, 20mg to 500mg of potassium clavulanate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, with the proviso that the weight ratio of amoxycillin trihydrate to potassium clavulanate is from 6:1 to 1:1. According to the present invention there is provided a method for the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis in lambs or sheep, which comprises administering to the animal an effective amount of amoxycillin or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, clavulanic acid or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, and a veterinarily acceptable carrier. A second aspect of the invention provides the use of a formulation comprising an effective amount of amoxycillin or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, clavulanic acid or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, and a veterinarily acceptable carrier in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis in lambs or sheep. The formulation has notable bactericidal activity against the bacteria associated with the disease pneumonic pasteurellosis, in particular P.haemolvtica. Suitably the clavulanic acid used in the formulation is in the form of a veterinarily acceptable salt such as potassium clavulanate. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Suitably the amoxycillin used in the formulation is in the form of the trihydrate or a veterinarily acceptable ester or salt of amoxycillin such as the sodium salt. The preferred weight ratio of amoxycillin or derivative to clavulanic acid or derivative is from 6:1 to 1:1. Advantageously, a liquid formulation of the invention comprises 36mg/ml clavulanic acid (as potassium clavulanate) and 140mg/ml amoxycillin (as amoxycillin trihydrate) . Preferred veterinarily acceptable carriers include for example veterinarily acceptable oils such as mineral oils or fractionated coconut oil such as Miglyol 840. Suitably the formulation is administered to the animal by intramuscular injection. The formulation is typically prepared as an off-white suspension and is presented as a 'Ready-To-Use' form, that is the formulation is preprepared and packed in a suitable container, wherein it is ready for administration to the animal in need thereof. The dosage rate will vary according to the size of the animal. A suitable dosage rate is generally between 2 and 25mg/kg bodyweight of the animal, for example about lOmg/kg. Typically more than a single dose of the formulation will be required for the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis, suitably one dose per day for 3 to 5 days is required. In cases of severe infections prolonged treatment may be SUB S TITUTESHEET required. Veterinary formulations for use in the present invention may be prepared by mixing the ingredients in the required proportions. The formulation is then packaged into an appropriate container ready for administration. The following Example illustrates the invention. SUBSTITUTESHEET Formulation amoxycillin trihydrate potassium clavulanate phenol Miglyol 840 SUBSTITUTE SHEET Biological data 1. Twenty 3-week old specific-pathogen-free Suffolk cross lambs were infected experimentally with an amoxycillin-sensitive strain of Pasteurella haemolvtica, type A at a concentration of 7.43 x 10 colony forming units per litre of air per minute. 2. Ten of the lambs received the formulation shown above by intramuscular injection at the recommended dose of lml/20Kg. of bodyweight. The treatment was repeated 24 and 48 hours later. The remaining ten lambs received no treatment. 3. Treated and untreated lambs were examined clinically for 7 days after infection when the survivors were necropsied. The results of the clinical findings are summarised in Table I. 4. One of the ten treated lambs died 6 days after infection. Seven of the ten untreated lambs died 3 (4 lambs) 4 (1 lamb) 5 (1 lamb) and 6 (1 lamb) days after infection. This difference in death rates was significant (p< 0.01 Fischer's Extract Test). In the treated group clinical abnormalities were present only in the lamb which died and that was on the day of the first treatment with the formulation. 5. Clinical abnormalities were found in 9 of the 10 untreated lambs. These clinical abnormalities and necropsy findings were similar to those expected during outbreaks of acute pastuerellosis in lambs of similar age under farm conditions. All those lambs which died had bacteriological evidence of pasteurellosis and showed either pleurisy or a subacute pneumonia consistent with Pastuerella haemolvtica type A infection. SUBSTITUTESHEET ND = not done It is concluded that there was a significant effect on the animals that were treated, and that the formulation has good efficacy in the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis in sheep. SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims: Claims 1. The use of a formulation comprising an effective amount of amoxycillin or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, clavulanic acid or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, and a veterinarily acceptable carrier in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis in lambs or sheep. 2. A method for the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis in lambs or sheep, which comprises administering to the animal an effective amount of amoxycillin or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, clavulanic acid or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, and a veterinarily acceptable carrier. 3. A composition for the treatment of pneumonic pasteurellosis in lambs or sheep, which comprises an effective amount of amoxycillin or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, clavulanic acid or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof, and a veterinarily acceptable carrier. . The use according to claim 1 wherein amoxycillin is used as the trihydrate or sodium salt. 5. The use according to claim 1 or 4 wherein clavulanic acid is used as the potassium salt. 6. The use according to claim 1, 4 or 5 wherein the carrier is an oil suitable for injection. 7. The use according to claim 1, 4, 5 or 6 wherein the amoxycillin or its derivative and the clavulanic acid or its derivative are in a weight ratio of 6:1 to 1:1. SUBSTITUTESHEET

Inventors: CRACKNELL VICTOR CHARLES, CRACKNELL, VICTOR, CHARLES
Applicants: BEECHAM GROUP PLC
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K31, A61P31, A61P43