Original scientific paper

Safety of peroral sulfadimidine sodium treatment in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)

Darko Sakar ; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Andreja Prevendar Crnić ; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Damir Janić ; Pliva d.d., Zagreb, Croatia
Tatjana Sakar ; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Safety of peroral sulfadimidine sodium (sulfamethazine) treatment was tested on two chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) groups. Sulfadimidine sodium was administered in drinking water to male chinchillas aged 5.5 to 7.5 months. Concentration of active ingredient in water was 960 and 1600 mg/l, respectively. During the initial five days the animals were drinking non-medicated water and, subsequently, over five consecutive days, water with sulfadimidine sodium. Sulfadimidine sodium, in concentrations of 960 and 1600 mg/l, did not influence the general health status of chinchillas or quality of faeces and body weight during and after the five-day treatment, nor did it influence the quality of fur, clearness of its colour and its density, which were unchanged immediately after the experiment and at 2.5 months post-treatment. This finding can be considered favourable for chinchilla breeders. Consumption of water with dissolved sulfadimidine, in relation to the non-medicated water intake, was reduced by 10% in group 960 mg/l (P>0.05), and by 24% in group 1600 mg/l (P<0.01). The average daily intake of sulfadimidine sodium in groups 960 mg/l and 1600 mg/l was 62.36 ± 4.37 mg/kg b.w./day and 89.66 ± 8.46 mg/kg b.w./day, respectively. These doses are in accordance with generally accepted doses for sulfadimidine sodium for the majority of animal species ranging from 50 to 100 mg/kg b.w./day. According to our results, the use of sulfadimidine sodium in drinking water can be recommended in both concentrations for treatment of bacterial infections in chinchillas, especially of gastro-intestinal, urinary and respiratory tract, if the microorganisms or protozoa are susceptible to this synthetic chemotherapeutic.

Keywords

chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera); sulfadimidine sodium; safety

Hrčak ID:

31904

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/31904

Publication date:

19.8.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.849 *