Clinical efficacy of acetylsalicylic acid as an adjunct to antibacterial treatment of porcine respiratory disease complex

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as an adjunct to antibiotic treatment of pigs with fever during an outbreak of porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). Materials and methods: The animals were divided into two groups. The experimental group received doxycycline hyclate and ASA in the drinking water for 5 consecutive days at doses of 10 mg per kg and 100 mg per kg of body weight, respectively, whereas the control group received only doxycycline hyclate (10 mgperkg). Clinical efficacy was investigated by comparing the synergistic or antagonistic effects of ASA administered with an antibiotic versus use of the antibiotic alone to reduce fever or clinical signs or both. Results: Results showed a significant decrease in fever in the group that received ASA and antibiotic versus the values observed in the group that received only antibiotic. No synergistic effect between ASA and doxycycline hyclate was observed to decrease respiratory signs. Implication: Acetylsalicylic acid is efficacious, at least to reduce fever, as an adjunct to antibacterial treatment of PRDC.