Effect of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on inflammatory markers in calves with experimentally-induced bronchopneumonia

The influence of treatment with steroidal (SAIDs) and non-steroidal (NSAIDs) anti-inflammatory drugs on inflammatory markers in thirty, 6-8 week old calves with induced bronchopneumonia was investigated. Animals received a single intravenous treatment with meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg body weight), flumethasone (0.05 mg/kg body weight) or sterile 0.9 % NaCl (10 ml per animal). Body temperature, respiratory and heart rate, concentration of prostaglandins PGE(2), PGF(2 alpha), thromboxane (TXB2), leukotriene (LTB4) and malonyldialdehyd (MDA) and proinflammatory cytokines i.e. tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha) and interferon (INFalpha) were recorded in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and blood platelets (BP). A significant reduction of main inflammatory mediators PGE(2), PGF(2 alpha),TXB2 and MDA after meloxicam treatment in calves with induced bronchopneumonia indicates a beneficial effect on the inflammatory processes. Contrary to effects observed by flumethasone, meloxicam induced an increase of LTB4 and INFalpha indicating that it is not immunosuppressive.