Chemotherapy of an experimental Fusobacterium (Sphaerophorus) necrophorum infection in mice

Abstract

An experimental animal model for testing antibiotics in vivo against Fusobacterium (Sphaerophorus) necrophorum has been developed. It incorporates the subcutaneous injection of the bacteria into mice followed by intraperitoneal administration of the antibiotic at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Mean effective dose values are based on the number of survivors 21 days after challenge. Tetracycline was the most effective drug tested, with a mean effective dose of 5.0 mg/kg, compared with mean effective dose values of 11.1 for clindamycin, 11.8 for penicillin-G, and 52.9 for lincomycin.