Efficacy of florfenicol for treatment of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of florfenicol for treatment of calves with naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). DESIGN: Randomized controlled field trial. ANIMALS: 63 beef calves and 80 dairy calves between 4 and 12 months of age. PROCEDURE: Calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Calves in the SC treatment group received a single dose of florfenicol (40 mg/kg [18.2 mg/lb of body weight), SC, on day 0. Calves in the IM treatment group received florfenicol (20 mg/kg [9.1 mg/lb]), IM, on days 0 and 2. Calves in the control group received injections of saline solution (0.9% NaCl), IM, on days 0 and 2. Calves were reevaluated every other day for 20 days after treatment. RESULTS: Corneal ulcers healed by day 20 in 48 of 49 (98%) calves treated with florfenicol IM, 39 of 42 (93%) calves treated with florfenicol SC, and 33 of 52 (63%) control calves. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Florfenicol administered SC (1 dose) or IM (2 doses 48 hours apart) was effective for treatment of calves with naturally occurring IBK.     

Effectiveness of two benzathine cloxacillin formulations for treatment of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

A field study was performed to determine the effectiveness of benzathine cloxacillin for the treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis in cattle from 2 farms located in northern California. The study was performed between June and September of 1987. Affected calves ranging from 2 to 9 months of age were selected from the main herd when signs of corneal ulceration were observed. The study was conducted in 2 phases. For phase I, the affected calves of herd 1 (n = 21; Holsteins) and herd 2 (n = 43 Angus crossbred), were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups, and were either treated with 250 (n = 23) or 375 mg (n = 21) of benzathine cloxacillin, or mineral oil (n = 20) on days 1 and 4. For phase II, affected calves (n = 16; Angus crossbred, 3 to 9 months of age) from herd 2 were treated with benzathine cloxacillin (250 mg). Eight of these calves were retreated on day 4. After treatment, all calves were examined every 72 hours for 16 days. For examinations, a clinical score was assigned to each eye, and the surface areas of photographed corneal ulcers were measured. The ocular secretions were collected and examined culturally for Moraxella bovis. On days 7, 10, and 13, the calves treated with benzathine cloxacillin had significantly (P less than 0.05) lower lesion scores, compared with the controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of vaccination and treatment in controlling naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.

A vaccination study for infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis was conducted on 108 newborn Hereford calves in the US Department of Agriculture Meat Animal Research Center cattle herd at Clay Center, Nebraska. Groups were allocated so that age of calf, sex of calf, and age of dam were equally distributed between the 54 vaccinated (group I) and the 54 nonvaccinated (group 2) control calves. The dams of both groups of calves were monitored as group 3 controls. An autogenous Moraxella bovis bacterin (formalin-killed, whole cells) was given IM at birth and at approximate intervals of 2 weeks for a total of 3 doses. Bacterial isolation rates for the cattle in groups 1, 2, and 3 during the summer were 92.6%, 92.6%, and 54.1%, respectively, and disease rates were 100%, 96.3%, and 70.6%. The rates were significantly (P less than 0.05) different between calves and cows. Vaccination of calves at birth permitted serum antibodies to develop before the calves were extensively exposed to infection; however, immunity to the disease did not develop. In a treatment study of other animals in the same herd, but in another pasture, the same criteria were used for allocation of 107 cow-calf pairs. Eye spray was applied to treated principals (group 4, 52 calves; and group 6, 53 cows) each week after examination and sample collection. Controls consisted of 54 calves (group 5) and 54 cows (group 7) that were examined and cultured bacteriologically in the same manner. The bacterial isolation and disease rates were less (P less than 0.05) in the treated calves (group 4) than in the nontreated controls (group 5). The differences in bacterial isolation rates between groups 6 and 7 were not significant, but group 6 had less (P less than 0.05) grade III lesions than did group 7. Weekly treatment appeared to be more effective in reducing the incidence of disease than did vaccination.     

Dose determination and confirmation of a long-acting formulation of ceftiofur (ceftiofur crystalline free acid) administered subcutaneously for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease

The objective of this work was to determine and confirm an effective dose of ceftiofur crystalline free acid sterile oil suspension (CCFA-SS, 100 mg ceftiofur equivalents (CE)/mL], a long-acting single-administration ceftiofur formulation, for the treatment of the bacterial component of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Study 1 was a dose determination study that used an intratracheal Mannheimia haemolytica (Pasteurella haemolytica) challenge model to evaluate single-administration doses of CCFA-SS at 0.0, 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4 or 5.5 mg CE/kg body weight (BW) for the treatment of BRD. Data from this study were used to select doses for field testing in three multi-location clinical studies. In Study 2, the efficacy of a single administration dose of CCFA-SS at 4.4 mg CE/kg BW was compared with a negative control for the treatment of naturally occurring BRD in feedlot cattle. Treatments were administered when uniform clinical signs of BRD were present. Study 3 used a design similar to Study 2, and compared single-administration doses of CCFA-SS at 3.0 or 4.4 mg CE/kg BW with the positive-control tilmicosin (Micotil(R) 300 Injection, Elanco Animal Health) at 10 mg/kg BW. Study 4 compared the efficacy of single doses of CCFA-SS of 1.1-8.8 mg CE/kg BW with tilmicosin at 10 mg/kg BW. A total of 1176 cattle were included in these clinical studies. In Study 1, a dose of 4.55 mg CE/kg BW was determined to be effective. This was rounded to 4.4 mg CE/kg for field testing. In Study 2, a single dose of CCFA-SS at 4.4 mg CE/kg BW had a higher treatment success rate on day 14 (61%) than negative controls (26%, P < 0.01). However, in Study 3 this dose was judged to be at the beginning of an efficacious dose range for the treatment of BRD when compared with tilmicosin. In Study 4, day 28 treatment success rates were higher for CCFA-SS at 4.4-8.8 CE/kg BW than for tilmicosin (P=0.002) or the noneffective CCFA-SS dose of 1.1 mg CE/kg BW (P < 0.001). Based on decision criteria for Study 4, the effective dose was determined to be 4.4-5.5 mg CE/kg BW. These clinical studies demonstrated that a single dose of CCFA-SS (100 mg CE/mL) administered subcutaneously (s.c.) in the neck at 4.4-5.5 mg CE/kg BW is an effective treatment for BRD in feedlot cattle. However, this route of administration is no longer being considered for this formulation because of the ceftiofur residues that are present at the injection site for extended periods of time.     

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of subconjunctival injection of clindamycin in the treatment of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical efficacy of subconjunctival injection of clindamycin in the treatment of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). ANIMALS STUDIED: Clinically, out of 81 animals examined, 46 were found to be suffering from IBK of variable severity. The ocular secretions were collected and cultured for Moraxella bovis. The study included 36 Holstein cattle from which M. Bovis was isolated. These animals ranged between 4 and 28 months of age. PROCEDURES: The severity of the clinical findings were scored as normal, mild, moderate, and severe. Clindamycin was injected subconjunctivally at a total dose of 150 mg (1 mL), once daily for 3 days to the test group (n = 18); isotonic saline solution (1 mL) was administered to the control group. After treatment, all cattle were re-examined and clinical response was evaluated on days 3, 7 and 15 post-treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the control group and prior to treatment, all active lesions such as blepharospasm, epiphora, photophobia, chemosis, corneal edema, and corneal ulceration were generally resolved by day 15 after subconjunctival injection of clindamycin. Severity of IBK lesions increased on days 3 and 7, compared to baseline in the control group administered isotonic saline solution. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that subconjunctival injection of clindamycin is effective in the treatment of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.     

Prevention of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis with a recombinant Moraxella bovis pilin-Moraxella bovis cytotoxin-ISCOM matrix adjuvanted vaccine

To evaluate the efficacy of a recombinant Moraxella bovis pilin-M. bovis cytotoxin subunit vaccine to prevent naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK; pinkeye), a randomized, blinded, controlled field trial was conducted during summer 2005 in a northern California herd of beef cattle. One hundred and one steers were vaccinated with ISCOM matrix (adjuvant control), recombinant M. bovis cytotoxin carboxy terminus+ISCOM matrix (MbxA), or recombinant M. bovis pilin-cytotoxin carboxy terminus+ISCOM matrix (pilin-MbxA); calves received secondary vaccinations 21 days later. Calves were examined once weekly for 18 weeks for the development of corneal ulcers associated with IBK. Overall, the pilin-MbxA vaccinated group had the lowest overall cumulative proportion of ulcerated calves. Calves that received MbxA, whether alone or with pilin had significantly higher M. bovis cytotoxin serum neutralizing titers as compared to control calves. Results of ocular cultures suggested that vaccination with an M. bovis antigen affected organism type isolated from an ulcer: M. bovis was cultured more often from the eyes of control calves than from the eyes of calves vaccinated with MbxA and pilin-MbxA. In addition, vaccination of calves with MbxA and pilin-MbxA resulted in a higher prevalence of Moraxella bovoculi sp. nov. in ocular cultures. While no significant difference was observed between a cytotoxin versus pilin+cytotoxin vaccine against IBK, the reduced cumulative proportion of IBK in the pilin-cytotoxin vaccinated calves suggests it may provide an advantage over a cytotoxin vaccine alone. Efficacy of an M. bovis vaccine may be reduced in herds where IBK is associated with M. bovoculi sp. nov.     

Efficacy of florfenicol in the treatment of experimentally induced infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of florfenicol in an induced model of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, using a blinded randomized, controlled trial. ANIMALS: 48 male Holstein calves, 2 to 4 months old. PROCEDURE: Moraxella bovis infection was induced in all calves. When corneal ulcers developed, each calf was assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatment groups, using a block design determined by corneal ulcer size (day 0). Calves were treated with florfenicol (20 mg/kg of body weight, IM) on days 0 and 2 (IM group; n = 16). Calves of a second group received a single dose of florfenicol (40 mg/kg, SC) on day 0 (SC group; n = 16). The third group of calves was not treated (control group; n = 16). Corneal ulcers were photographed, and each calf was assessed for 30 days after treatment for 10 clinical signs of infection. Corneal ulcer surface areas were measured, and clinical scores were calculated. Ocular secretions for microbiologic culture were obtained weekly from each eye. RESULTS: A Cox regression model indicated that, after adjustment for initial ulcer size, healing rates were 6.2 and 4.8 times greater in calves of the IM and SC groups, respectively, compared with the control group. Clinical scores and surface area measurements for treatment groups were significantly smaller than those for controls during posttreatment weeks 1 through 4. From day 8 through day 29, M bovis was isolated from ocular secretions of 14 of 16 control calves and 1 of 32 treated calves. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Parenterally administered florfenicol reduces corneal ulcer healing time, lessens clinical severity, and reduces the amount of bacterial shedding from calves infected with M bovis.     

Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid sterile suspension in the equine

Collard, W. T., Cox, S. R., Lesman, S. P., Grover, G. S., Boucher, J. F., Hallberg, J. W., Robinson, J. A., Brown, S. A. Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur crystalline‐free acid sterile suspension in the equine. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 34 , 476–481. Absolute bioavailability and dose proportionality studies were performed with ceftiofur in horses. In the absolute bioavailability study, thirty animals received either an intravenous dose of ceftiofur sodium at 1.0 mg/kg or an intramuscular (i.m.) dose of ceftiofur crystalline‐free acid (CCFA) at 6.6 mg/kg. In the dose proportionality study, 48 animals received daily i.m. ceftiofur sodium injections at 1.0 mg/kg for ten doses or two doses of CCFA separated by 96 h, with CCFA doses of 3.3, 6.6, or 13.2 mg/kg. Noncompartmental and mixed‐effect modeling procedures were used to assess pharmacokinetics (PK). CCFA was well absorbed with a bioavailability of 100%. AUC_0–∞ and C_max increased in a dose‐related manner following administration of the two doses of CCFA at 3.3, 6.6, and 13.2 mg/kg. The least‐squares mean terminal half‐life (t_½) following the tenth daily i.m. injection of ceftiofur sodium at 2.2 mg/kg was 40.8 h, but the least‐squares mean t_½ following the second i.m. injection of CCFA at 6.6 mg/kg was 100 h. The time that plasma ceftiofur equivalent concentrations remain above a threshold concentration of 0.2 μg/mL has been associated with efficacy, and following administration of two 6.6 mg/kg doses of CCFA, the mean time above 0.2 μg/mL was 262 h. Simulations with the nonlinear mixed‐effect PK model predicted that more than 97.5% of horses will have plasma ceftiofur equivalent concentrations >0.2 μg/mL for 96 h after the second 6.6 mg/kg dose of CCFA.     

Dose determination and confirmation for ceftiofur crystalline-free acid administered in the posterior aspect of the ear for control and treatment of bovine respiratory disease

Three studies were conducted to determine and confirm the effective dosage rate of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid sterile suspension (CCFA-SS, 200 mg ceftiofur equivalents [CE]/ml), a long-acting ceftiofur formulation, for control and treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). In each study, CCFA-SS was administered once by subcutaneous (SC) injection in the middle third of the posterior aspect of the ear. Study 1 was conducted using an intratracheal challenge with Mannheimia (formerly Pasteurella) haemolytica and dosages ranging from 0 to 8.8 mg CE/kg to select a dosage for further field testing. In Study 2, a single dose of CCFA-SS at 0.0, 4.4, or 6.6 mg CE/kg was administered when uniform clinical signs of BRD were present in feedlot cattle. Study 3 was conducted in several feedlots to evaluate the efficacy, practicality, and safety of CCFA-SS at 4.4 or 6.6 mg CE/kg compared with a placebo control or tilmicosin for preemptive control of BRD. In Study 1, the effective dose was determined to be 5.35 mg CE/kg; therefore, 4.4 and 6.6 mg CE/kg were selected as the dosages for further field testing. Administration of CCFA-SS at 4.4 or 6.6 mg CE/kg improved treatment success compared with negative controls (P < or =.05 for both doses) in Study 2. In Study 3, a single administration of 4.4 or 6.6 mg CE/kg was comparable to tilmicosin (P <.001) and was significantly better than placebo (P <.001) for the control of BRD. Using the ear as an administration site was acceptable under field conditions and was well tolerated by all animals. These studies demonstrated that a single administration of CCFA-SS by SC injection in the middle third of the posterior aspect of the ear at 4.4 or 6.6 mg CE/kg is effective, safe, and practical for preemptive control and treatment of the bacterial component of BRD in feedlot cattle. Administration in an inedible tissue results in a short withdrawal time and no injection-site trimming at slaughter.     

Pharmacokinetics of a long-acting ceftiofur formulation (ceftiofur crystalline free acid) in the ball python (Python regius)

The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of a long-acting formulation of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid (CCFA) following intramuscular injection in ball pythons (Python regius). Six adult ball pythons received an injection of CCFA (15 mg/kg) in the epaxial muscles. Blood samples were collected by cardiocentesis immediately prior to and at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, 144, 192, 240, 288, 384, 480, 576, 720, and 864 hr after CCFA administration. Plasma ceftiofur concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. A noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was applied to the data. Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 7.096 +/- 1.95 microg/ml and occurred at (Tmax) 2.17 +/- 0.98 hr. The area under the curve (0 to infinity) for ceftiofur was 74.59 +/- 13.05 microg x h/ml and the elimination half-life associated with the terminal slope of the concentration-time curve was 64.31 +/- 14.2 hr. Mean residence time (0 to infinity) was 46.85 +/- 13.53 hr. CCFA at 15 mg/kg was well tolerated in all the pythons. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data for bacterial isolates from snakes are not well established. For MIC values of < or =0.1 microg/ml, a single dose of CCFA (15 mg/kg) provides adequate plasma concentrations for at least 5 days in the ball python. For MICs > or =0.5 microg/ml, more frequent dosing or a higher dosage may be required.     

A topical aqueous calcineurin inhibitor for the treatment of naturally occurring keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an aqueous calcineurin inhibitor, SCY‐641, in the treatment of naturally occurring canine immune‐mediated keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Methods A randomized, double‐masked, placebo‐controlled clinical study of 56‐day duration was performed in dogs with naturally occurring immune‐mediated KCS assigned to treatment with either topical twice‐daily aqueous calcineurin inhibitor solution (SCY‐641) or artificial tears (placebo) by the study administrator. Clinical examination and Schirmer tear tests (STT) were performed prior to therapy and at days 7, 14, 28, and 56 after initiation of treatment. Results Twenty dogs were enrolled in the study with ten receiving placebo and 10 receiving SCY‐641 in one or both eyes. No adverse effects were noted with any treatment. There were no significant differences in mean STT values in dogs in group either at day 0 (prior to therapy) or after 7 days of treatment. At 14, 28, and 56 days after initiation of treatment, mean STT and increase in STT over baseline in dogs treated with SCY‐641 were significantly higher than in dogs treated with placebo (P < 0.04). Conclusions SCY‐641 was well tolerated by dogs with naturally occurring KCS, and by 14 days after initiating therapy, dogs treated with SCY‐641 had significantly higher STT than placebo‐treated dogs. These preliminary results indicate that topical SCY‐641, in a stable clear aqueous solution, is efficacious in a spontaneous model of KCS and warrants further evaluation as a treatment of immune‐mediated KCS.     

Efficacy of a paste formulation of omeprazole for the treatment of naturally occurring gastric ulcers in training standardbred racehorses in Canada

The efficacy of a paste formulation of the H+, K+, -ATPase inhibitor omeprazole was evaluated in standardbred racehorses for the treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers. Twenty standardbred racehorses in training, aged 2 to 9 years, were enrolled from 2 training centres in this field trial. Endoscopic examinations confirmed the presence of gastric ulcers in all horses, prior to allocation and treatment and on day 0. Lesions were scored on a scale of 0 to 3 (intact epithelium to extensive ulceration). Replicates were formed, based on training level and location. Within replicates, 1 horse was assigned to group 1 and 3 horses were assigned to group 2, randomly. Horses in group 1 were sham-dosed controls. Horses in group 2 were given omeprazole paste orally at 4 mg/kg bodyweight (BW)/day from day 0 to day 27 and 2 mg/kg BW/day of omeprazole paste orally from day 28 to day 57. Follow-up endoscopies were conducted on post treatment days 28 and 58 or 59. Physical examinations, including BWs, were conducted on all horses prior to treatment and on days 13 or 14, 28, 42 or 43, and 58 or 59. Horses treated with omeprazole had significantly (P < 0.01) more improvement in gastric lesion scores than did controls at day 28 and at study termination on days 58 or 59. All of the omeprazole-treated horses were improved relative to baseline ulcer score at both examinations, and 73.3% were healed (lesion score of 0) at both examinations. None of the controls improved at any point during the study. When the dose was reduced to 2 mg/kg BW, 80% of the horses showed no recurrences or worsening in gastric ulcers. It was concluded that omeprazole paste at 4 mg/kg BW orally, once daily is highly effective in healing gastric ulcers in standardbred racehorses in training and that a dose of 2 mg/kg BW orally, once daily, effectively prevents the recurrence of gastric ulcers in most horses.     

Topically applied benzathine cloxacillin for treatment of experimentally induced infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

The efficacy of an ophthalmic ointment containing benzathine cloxacillin for treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis was determined in 2 experiments. In the first experiment, Holstein calves (n = 6/group) were inoculated with Moraxella bovis and treated on postinoculation days 3 and 6 with either topically applied benzathine cloxacillin (250 mg/eye) or long-acting oxytetracycline formulation (20 mg/kg of body weight, IM). A third group of inoculated calves remained untreated as controls. For the second experiment, 4 groups of calves (n = 6/group) were inoculated and treated on postinoculation days 3 and 6 with 50, 125, 250, or 375 mg of benzathine cloxacillin; a fifth untreated group served as controls. Ocular specimens were obtained for microbiologic culture, and eyes were observed and assigned a clinical score daily. Eyes were photographed on alternate days. Ulcer surface area was measured, using a planimeter. In experiment 1, the week-2 ulcer surface area measurements for both groups of treated calves were smaller than those for controls. There was a greater frequency of M bovis isolation from the ocular secretions of controls than from those of benzathine cloxacillin-treated calves during postinoculation weeks 2 and 3. The number of M bovis isolations from the benzathine cloxacillin- and oxytetracycline-treated calves was not significantly different at any sample collection interval. On week 3, the scores of the benzathine cloxacillin-treated calves were smaller than those of controls. In experiment 2, calves of the 250- and 375-mg groups had smaller ulcer surface area measurements than did controls on week 2. By week 3, calves of the 375-mg group had smaller scores than did controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Efficacy of tulathromycin or enrofloxacin for initial treatment of naturally occurring bovine respiratory disease in feeder calves

After undergoing arrival processing at one of two commercial feedlots, feeder calves with clinical signs of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) were randomly assigned to receive either tulathromycin (2.4 mg/kg SC) or enrofloxacin (12.5 mg/kg SC). Additional therapy for calves that did not respond to initial treatment followed a prescribed course. Initial treatment with tulathromycin resulted in significantly higher (P = .009 and P = .031 at sites 1 and 2, respectively) therapeutic success (87.9% and 80%, respectively) than did initial treatment with enrofloxacin (70.2% and 62.5%, respectively). Animals treated with tulathromycin also had fewer subsequent treatments and higher weight gains compared with those treated with enrofloxacin.     

Experimental production of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

The left eyes of 10 conventional dairy cross calves were inoculated with a pathogenic strain of Moraxella bovis and lesions of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis developed in nine of these eyes. M bovis was isolated from all inoculated eyes and lesions developed in five out of 10 eyes which had become naturally infected. The clinical and microbiological findings were similar to those described in field cases.     

Procaine penicillin by subconjunctival injection in the treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

A profile off the penicillin concentration in bovine conjunctival sac fluid (CF) was determined after a single subconjunctival injection of procaine penicillin (6 x 10(5) iu in 2ml). When the injection was made through the skin of the upper eye lid, the duration of therapeutic concentration was significantly greater (P<0.01) than when the injection had been given by the perconjunctival route: approximately 68 hours or 40 hours respectively. These findings support the clinical use of subconjunctivally administered procaine penicillin in the treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. A single application of an equivalent dose of either procaine penicillin or benethamine penicillin, applied topically in a simple occulentum base, produced a therapeutic duration in CF of 37 +/- 4 hr and 56 +/- 4.5 hr respectively.     

Survival analysis for evaluation of corneal ulcer healing times in calves with naturally acquired infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

A clinical trial examining the efficacy of 2 drugs for treatment of a natural epizootic of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis was performed. The study was conducted in 103 grazing Hereford calves during the summer of 1985. The calves were prospectively and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups at the beginning of the study on June 17, and were examined 3 times weekly thereafter until the final observation on August 6. Calves in group 1 (n = 34) were not treated and were used as controls. Calves of group 2 (n = 34) with corneal ulcers were treated with a long-acting oxytetracycline formulation (OTC group). The parenteral treatment was repeated in 72 hours. Affected calves of group 3 (n = 35) were treated topically with furazolidone spray when they developed new corneal ulcers, or when existing lesions worsened during subsequent examination periods (NFZ group). Healing times of the corneal ulcers were reported in 3 ways: the combined times for ulcers present in both eyes of a calf simultaneously (method A), independent times of each ulcer on a calf (method B), and time of the first ulcer for each calf (method C). Censored healing times were examined as left censored (ulcer present at the beginning of the study), right censored (ulcer not healed at the end of the study), or uncensored (true) healing times. The effect that the treatments had on healing times were investigated by use of notched box and whisker plots, life tables, and Cox regression models. The analysis indicated that treatment of calves with either antimicrobial reduced the healing time of corneal ulcers, compared with untreated controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)