Experimental Induction of Proteus mirabilis Cystitis in the Pony and Evaluation of Therapy with Trimethoprim-Sulfadiazine

Abstract
SUMMARY: Proteus mirabilis cystitis was induced in 9 ponies by chemically eroding the bladder mucosa before the organism was inoculated. Comparisons were made in the treatment of P mirabilis cystitis between ponies treated daily for 13 days with a trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (tmp-sdz) paste and both positive and negative controls. Urine cultures from ponies treated with tmp-sdz became negative for P mirabilis between days 3 and 9 after the start of the treatment, whereas positive controls remained infected until day 13. Urine cultures from all ponies were negative for P mirabilis on day 28. Urine concentrations of tmp and sdz were relatively high after day 1 of therapy.