Abstract

COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF AZITHROMYCIN AND LEVOFLOXACIN IN PYODERMA OF DOGS

Sunilchandra, U.*, Santhosh, P.S., Vijay Kumar, M., Ravindra, B.G., Sandeep Halmandge

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to compare the clinical efficacy of azithromycin and levofloxacin in pyoderma of dogs with regard to the adverse effects and duration of therapy. A total of sixty clinical cases of dogs irrespective of breed and those above the age group of two years presented to the clinical service complex, with symptoms of pyoderma were divided retrospectively in to two groups. Group I (n=30) was treated with azithromycin @ 5-10 mg/kg, orally, once a day. for 21 days and group II (n=30) was treated with levofloxacin @ 10 mg/kg, orally, once a day, for twenty one days along with the suitable supportive therapy, after ruling out the fungal and mite origin skin infections. The serum samples collected from the dogs at weekly intervals were subjected to biochemical analysis for serum alanine transaminase(ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine parameters. Levofloxacin treated dogs recovered faster compared to azithromycin treated dogs with reference to the number of days required for complete disappearance of the clinical signs (13.10± 0.52 v/s 16.86 ± 0.51). 36.66 and 16.66 per cent of dogs in group II had elevated ALT levels on Day 14 and 21 respectively against 6.6 percent of dogs in group I on Day 14 only. 13.33 per cent of dogs in group II had elevated BUN levels on Day 14, while none of the dogs in group I had elevated BUN levels during therapy. The study revealed that both azithromycin and levofloxacin can be used effectively in the treatment of pyoderma with the concern for hepatic insufficiency of levofloxacin on long term use.

Keywords: pyoderma, azithromycin, levofloxacin, efficacy.