Comparison of post‐operative inflammatory response in horses undergoing elective castration treated preoperatively with ceftiofur crystalline free acid or procaine penicillin G. (20th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bergstrom, T.; Frey, M.; Rao, S.; Bass, L.
• Is Part Of: Equine veterinary education. Volume 34:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 409
• Page End: 416
• Publication Date: 2021-01-20
• Subjects: horse -- serum amyloid A -- castration -- antimicrobial -- inflammation; Horses -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Horses -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 636.108905
• DOI: 10.1111/eve.13444
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-7734

Abstract

Summary: Castration is among the most common surgical procedures performed in the horse ( Equus Caballus ) and a variety of post‐operative complications can occur. This study aims to determine if a single dose of long‐acting ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) used as a preoperative antimicrobial in equine field castrations offers any reduction in post‐operative inflammatory markers when compared to procaine penicillin G (PPG). Sixty‐five horses aged 8 months to 2 years were randomly assigned to the CCFA (n = 33) or PPG (n = 32) treatment groups. Horses were castrated under general anaesthesia using a closed castration technique with removal of the median raphe. Quantitative and qualitative inflammatory markers were measured and short‐term complications were recorded post‐operatively on Days 3, 8 and 14. No clinically significant difference in any post‐operative inflammatory markers between the CCFA and PPG group was detected. In the CCFA group, 48% of horses experienced short‐term post‐operative complications compared to 31% in the PPG group. Regardless of the preoperative treatment, castration induced significant elevation in serum amyloid A (P<0.0001), preputial oedema (P<0.0001) and scrotal oedema (P<0.0001) at Day 3. These values returned to baseline levels by Day 8. Horses with grade 3 or above preputial oedema had elevated serum amyloid A values (P<0.001). The data from this study indicate CCFA used as a preoperative antibiotic for routine castration offers no advantages over PPG. The difference in complication rate between groups is likely of minimal clinical importance, as all complications were mild and self‐limiting.