Enrofloxacin, also known as ethylciprofloxacin or enfloxacin, is a slightly yellow or light yellow crystalline powder with a bitter taste. It is insoluble in water and is designated as a veterinary drug by the state. Enrofloxacin is a third-generation fluoroquinolone broad-spectrum antibacterial drug. It has been in the Chinese livestock and veterinary drug market for nearly forty years and was one of the earliest imported foreign veterinary preparations specifically for animals in China. It is rapidly and completely absorbed orally, reaching peak blood concentration within as little as half an hour. Except for the central nervous system, the drug concentration in almost all tissues is higher than in plasma. Therefore, these excellent characteristics make it particularly suitable for the treatment of systemic bacterial infections.
Physicochemical Properties
Enrofloxacin belongs to the fluoroquinolone class of chemically synthesized bacteriostatic agents. It is easily soluble in sodium hydroxide solution, methanol, acetonitrile, and other organic solvents.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption after oral and intramuscular administration is rapid and relatively complete, with peak blood concentration reached in 0.5 to 2 hours. Except for the central nervous system, drug concentrations in almost all tissues are higher than in plasma, which is beneficial for the treatment of systemic and deep tissue infections. The drug is eliminated through both renal and non-renal pathways, with approximately 15% to 50% of the unchanged drug excreted in the urine. The main metabolic pathway in animals involves the removal of the ethyl group to form ciprofloxacin.
Pharmacological Action
This product is a broad-spectrum bactericidal drug and has a specific effect on mycoplasma. It also has bactericidal efficacy against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella, Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus, Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus.
Prevention and Treatment of Cellular Diseases
- Bacterial Respiratory Diseases:
Infectious pleuropneumonia, Haemophilus parasuis infection (Glasser’s disease), swine pasteurellosis, streptococcal infections, etc. - Digestive Tract Diseases:
Colibacillosis (E. coli infection, such as piglet yellow and white scours, edema disease), salmonellosis, swine dysentery caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, leptospirosis. - Urogenital System Diseases:
Urethritis, cystitis, sow mastitis-metritis-agalactia (MMA) syndrome. - Skin Diseases:
Exudative epidermitis of pigs, Fusobacterium necrophorum infections, eperythrozoonosis (mycoplasma suis infection), etc. - Secondary Bacterial Infections Following Viral Diseases:
Such as Haemophilus parasuis infection, streptococcal disease, eperythrozoonosis, etc. - Various Mycoplasma Diseases:
Swine enzootic pneumonia (mycoplasma pneumonia), Mycoplasma hyosynoviae infection (swine arthritis), Mycoplasma nasale infection (atrophic rhinitis).
Precautions
- Enrofloxacin has poor palatability and is not suitable for administration in drinking water. For oral administration to pigs, it must be in a coated form, otherwise it will be wasted as pigs will not consume it.
- Avoid long-term single-drug use. It is recommended to alternate with other drugs or use in combination with other drugs to reduce the development of drug resistance.
- High doses can easily cause side effects. Enrofloxacin is prohibited in pigs sensitive to it (especially early-weaned piglets). When administering intramuscular injections to a large group of young pigs, it is advisable to test on 1-2 pigs first and strictly control the dosage.
- Enrofloxacin has antagonistic effects with macrolide antibiotics, florfenicol, etc.
Enrofloxacin Poisoning Antidote
- For poultry such as chickens and ducks, poisoning can be treated by administering Baidu Jie (a detoxification medicine) orally, which can lead to recovery within 3 days.
- For pigs, adult pigs can be treated with intramuscular injections of Anna Jia and atropine for detoxification, along with increased water intake. For piglets, the following methods can be used:
(1) Strong Detoxification Min Injection: 0.5 ml/piglet; 10% Vitamin C Injection: 1.0 ml/piglet; Jiubi Zhi Injection: 0.5 ml/piglet; administer intramuscularly separately. For mild cases, every 8 hours; for severe cases, every 6 hours, for 2 to 5 consecutive treatments.
(2) Orally administer 10% Multivitamin Glucose Solution: 10 to 20 ml, once every hour.
(3) Warm water bath: For comatose and hypothermic pigs, use 38 to 40 degrees Celsius warm water for a bath of 15 to 20 minutes. After the body temperature rises, place the pig on a warm bed for insulation, once every hour, until the body temperature stabilizes.