A new single-dose therapy set to revolutionise the treatment of piglet infections is launched in the UK and Ireland by Pfizer Animal Health.
Naxcel® is based on the well proven broad-spectrum antibiotic molecule ceftiofur, which has been widely used in farm animal medicine for many years under the name Excenel™ . Naxcel is a novel sustained-release formulation which has been developed so that a single injection will maintain antibacterial activity for as long as seven days.
Unlike conventional slow-release formulations, Naxcel rapidly reaches therapeutic plasma levels — within one hour — so that treatment is both fast-acting and long-lasting.
Naxcel is licensed for both the treatment of swine respiratory disease caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Haemophilus parasuis and Streptococcus suis plus treatment of septicaemia, polyarthritis and polyserositis caused by Streptococcus suis
Streptococcus suis infections are a major cause of economic loss on intensive pig units, particularly during the first 10 to 12 weeks of life. S. suis, carried by virtually all pigs and triggered by stress or other pathogens, causes a range of infections throughout the body and can lead to sudden death from septicaemia.
Laboratory susceptibility studies based on 472 S. suis isolates from seven EU countries showed that ceftiofur was highly effective (MIC90 ≤0.03µ/ml) with no difference between various serotypes. Compared with a number of other commonly used antibacterials, ceftiofur was the most potent and consistent antibacterial tested.
In one clinical study where 40 piglets around 10 weeks of age were challenged with S. suis the number of animals withdrawn on veterinary advice or through mortality was dramatically reduced in the Naxcel group compared with the control group.
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With the trend to single-dose, full-course therapy, it is the discovery of a unique formulation which enables Naxcel to be used in this way. The ceftiofur molecules are coated during manufacture with a vegetable oil blend which produces a controlled release of the active ingredient.
Studies show that a single injection with Naxcel produces plasma levels of active drug which are longer lasting than three daily doses of conventional ceftiofur (Excenel).
"We're excited by the benefits which Naxcel will bring to the pig industry," says Marcon Tigges, product manager of Pfizer's pig and poultry team. "Naxcel will bring to an end the need for a course of injections, sometimes as many as three consecutive daily shots, which is one of the common treatments for S. suis infections in piglets.
"This will mean far less stress for the animals and for those handling the pigs, and both the producer and the vet will know that every pig has a full course of treatment with much reduced risk of any relapse.
"They'll also have the reassurance that comes with using an antibiotic molecule whose reputation for quality, safety and efficacy has been outstanding over many years."
Ceftiofur has been used for treating pigs, cattle and other species since the 1980s, and despite this popularity in veterinary medicine, no increase in resistance to the antibiotic has been detected. The molecule is rapidly broken down in the gut, and in the environment, which limits the exposure of non-target bacteria and potential for resistance to develop.
Injection site studies show that Naxcel is well tolerated and compares favourably with other injectable antibiotics. Meat withdrawal period has been set at 71 days, and this is another reason that Naxcel will used primarily in young, growing pigs up to 10-12 weeks of age.
The recommended dosage is 5mg/kg (1ml/20kg bodyweight) by intramuscular injection. Naxcel is supplied as a ready-to-use, sterile suspension in 100 ml bottles, and can be stored at room temperature.
