The chemotactic role of eicosanoids in the pathogenesis of Pasteurella haemolytica infection was studied, using a tissue chamber infection model and pharmacological inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis. Tissue chambers were implanted subcutaneously in 12 calves allotted to three treatment groups of equal size. At 45 days after implantation, calves received saline, dexamethasone, or phenylbutazone treatments, and tissue chambers in all animals were then inoculated with P. haemolytica. Chamber fluid samples were collected before inoculation and at 2, 6, 18, 40, and 90 h after inoculation. Bacterial counts, total leukocyte counts, pH and albumin concentrations in chamber fluids were determined using standard bacteriological and clinical pathological methods. Concentrations of eicosanoids and activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1) were measured by radioimmunoassay and a helper T cell bioassay, respectively. Concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (PGF1 alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased markedly after inoculation. An inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on both LTB4 production and neutrophil influx, together with the temporal relationship between these two events, suggested that LTB4 served as a chemo-attractant. Activity-time profiles for IL-1 in chamber fluids were similar to those of the eicosanoids. Phenylbutazone and dexamethasone reduced the severity of the inflammatory responses as measured by lower concentrations of albumin and higher pH in treated versus control chamber fluids. The results of this study suggest that eicosanoid inflammatory mediators play an important chemotactic role in the pathogenesis of P. haemolytica infection.

Distribution of erythromycin into subcutaneous tissue chambers was characterised pharmacokinetically and the effect of Pasteurella haemolytica infection on the extent of penetration was studied. Thermoplastic tissue chambers were implanted subcutaneously in the paralumbar fossae of six calves. Thirty-five days after implantation, the tissue chamber distribution of intramuscularly administered erythromycin (30 mg kg-1) was studied. Chambers were then inoculated with P haemolytica and the tissue chamber pharmacokinetics of erythromycin were again studied. Diffusion of erythromycin into tissue chambers was best described using a two-compartment model with tissue chambers representing a relatively inaccessible compartment. Despite changes in chamber fluid pH, the extent of erythromycin penetration into chambers was not affected by P haemolytica inoculation. Comparison of computer simulated concentration-time curves resulting from different routes of administration revealed that penetration of erythromycin into less accessible sites was more likely to be higher after intravenous administration than after intramuscular administration.

Single-dose pharmacokinetic variables of pyrimethamine were studied in horses. Pyrimethamine (1 mg/kg of body weight) was administered IV and orally to 6 adult horses, and plasma samples were obtained at frequent intervals thereafter. Plasma pyrimethamine concentration was assayed by gas chromatography, and concentration-time data were analyzed, using a pharmacokinetic computer program. The IV and oral administration data were best described by 3-compartment and 1-compartment models, respectively. The median volume of distribution at steady state after IV administration was 1,521 ml/kg and the median elimination half-time was 12.06 hours. Mean plasma concentration after oral administration fluctuated between a maximal concentration of 0.18 microgram/ml and 0.09 microgram/ml (24 hours after dosing). Bioavailability after oral administration was 56%.