Utilization of cholestyramine resin as a preventive treatment for antibiotic (clindamycin) induced enterotoxaemia in the rabbit.

Overview

Cholestyramine, an ion exchange resin shown to bind bacterial toxins, was utilized to treat rabbits with antibiotic induced enterotoxaemia. Three groups of 6 rabbits were administered 30 mg/kg clindamycin phosphate intravenously on day 1. One group was untreated; 2 groups were treated daily by gavage with 2 g cholestyramine in 20 ml water until day 21, starting on either day 1 or 3. Daily body weights, faecal output, faecal occult blood, food and water consumption, and body temperatures were determined. Four of 6 rabbits in the untreated group either died or were moribund and euthanased. There were no deaths in either treatment groups. Dramatic decreases in food consumption (86%), water consumption (62%), and faecal output (89%) were noted within 3 days after clindamycin administration in all groups. These parameters remained depressed throughout the study. There was no clear trend in body weight changes, body temperature, or faecal occult blood test results. Cholestyramine was effective in eliminating mortality associated with the intravenous administration of clindamycin and is recommended to prevent the development of enterotoxaemia when pyrogen testing or administering antibiotics known to induce the syndrome in rabbits.