Methods and compositions for reducing antibiotic administration to farm animals

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of identifying an animal for which antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy is appropriate, comprising: a) collecting a sample from said animal; b) performing a leukocyte differential cell count on said sample; c) comparing said leukocyte differential cell count of (b) with an index of infection; and d) initiating antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of said animal on the basis of said comparing step.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of identifying an animal for which antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy is appropriate, comprising:
 a) collecting a sample from said animal;   b) performing a leukocyte differential cell count on said sample;   c) comparing said leukocyte differential cell count of (b) with an index of infection; and   d) initiating antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of said animal on the basis of said comparing step.   
     
     
         2 . A method of determining need for and/or timing of antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of an animal, comprising:
 a) collecting a sample from said animal;   b) performing a leukocyte differential cell count on said sample;   c) comparing said leukocyte differential cell count of (b) with an index of infection; and   d) identifying the need for and/or timing of the antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of said animal on the basis of said comparing step.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said index of infection is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a neutrophil value in a range from X N ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y N ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X N  is 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, or 1.7×10 3  neutrophils per microliter, and Y N  is 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, or 12.0×10 3  neutrophils per microliter;   b) a lymphocyte value in a range from X L ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y L ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X L  is 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, or 7.0×10 3  lymphocytes per microliter, and Y L  is 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7 11.8, 11.9, 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, or 12.3×10 3  lymphocytes per microliter;   c) an eosinophil value in a range from X E ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y E ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X E  is 0.0×10 3  eosinophils per microliter and Y E  is 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0×10 3  eosinophils per microliter; and   d) any combination of (a), (b) and (c) above.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said index of infection is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a neutrophil value in a range from X N ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y N ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X N  is about 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, or 1.7×10 3  neutrophils per microliter, and Y N  is about 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, or 12.0×10 3  neutrophils per microliter;   b) a lymphocyte value in a range from X L ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y L ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X L  is about 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, or 7.0×10 3  lymphocytes per microliter, and Y L  is about 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, or 12.3×10 3  lymphocytes per microliter;   c) an eosinophil value in a range from X E ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y E ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X E  is 0.0×10 3  eosinophils per microliter and Y E  is about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0×10 3  eosinophils per microliter; and   d) any combination of (a), (b) and (c) above.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said comparing step comprises comparing a neutrophil value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the neutrophil value of (a), comparing a lymphocyte value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the lymphocyte value of (b), and/or comparing a eosinophil value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the eosinophil value of (c), in any combination, wherein a neutrophil value, a lymphocyte value and/or an eosinophil value that is outside of the range of the respective neutrophil value of (a), the lymphocyte value of (b) and/or the eosinophil value of (c) identifies that antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy is appropriate for said animal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said comparing step comprises comparing a neutrophil value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the neutrophil value of (a), comparing a lymphocyte value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the lymphocyte value of (b), and/or comparing a eosinophil value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the eosinophil value of (c), in any combination, wherein a neutrophil value, a lymphocyte value and/or an eosinophil value that is outside of the range of the respective neutrophil value of (a), the lymphocyte value of (b) and/or the eosinophil value of (c) identifies that the antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy is needed and/or should be continued or initiated. 
     
     
         7 . A method of reducing or discontinuing antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of an animal that is receiving antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy, comprising:
 a) collecting a sample from said animal;   b) performing a leukocyte differential cell count on said sample;   c) comparing said leukocyte differential cell count of (b) with an index of infection; and   d) identifying that reducing or discontinuing antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of said animal is appropriate on the basis of said comparing step.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said index of infection is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a neutrophil value in a range from X N ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y N ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X N  is about 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, or 1.7×10 3  neutrophils per microliter, and Y N  is about 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, or 12.0×10 3  neutrophils per microliter;   b) a lymphocyte value in a range from X L ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y L ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X L  is about 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, or 7.0×10 3  lymphocytes per microliter, and Y L  is about 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, or 12.3×10 3  lymphocytes per microliter;   c) an eosinophil value in a range from X E ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y E ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X E  is 0.0×10 3  eosinophils per microliter and Y E  is about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0×10 3  eosinophils per microliter; and   d) any combination of (a), (b) and (c) above.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said comparing step comprises comparing a neutrophil value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the neutrophil value of (a), comparing a lymphocyte value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the lymphocyte value of (b), and/or comparing a eosinophil value in the leukocyte differential cell count with the eosinophil value of (c), in any combination, wherein a neutrophil value, a lymphocyte value and/or an eosinophil value that is within the range of the respective neutrophil value of (a), the lymphocyte value of (b) and/or the eosinophil value of (c) identifies that reduction or discontinuation of the antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy is appropriate for said animal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said animal is in a group of animals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a leukocyte differential cell count is performed on a sample collected from each animal in said group of animals and compared with an index of infection and said each animal is assigned to either a normal subgroup or an abnormal subgroup on the basis of said comparing step. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein animals of said normal subgroup and animals of said abnormal subgroup are fed out together for a period of weeks and/or months while only animals of said abnormal subgroup are administered an antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein animals of said normal subgroup and animals of said abnormal subgroup are fed out together for a period of weeks and/or months while animals of said normal subgroup and animals of said abnormal subgroup are administered an antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein animals of said abnormal subgroup are segregated from animals of said normal subgroup. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said collecting step comprises dispensing said sample into a cartridge, and said performing step is carried out with said sample in said cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said cartridge is pre-warmed to a pre-determined temperature, and said performing step is carried out with a cartridge reader pre-warmed to substantially the same pre-determined temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said collecting step includes transferring said sample to an automated microscope cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry. 
     
     
         19 . A method of tracking illness and/or antibiotic treatment in a group of animals, comprising:
 (a) selecting an individual animal present in the group of animals;   (b) collecting a sample from said animal of (a);   (c) performing a leukocyte differential count on said sample;   (d) comparing said leukocyte differential count of (c) to an index of infection;   (e) assigning said individual animal to either a normal subgroup or an abnormal subgroup on the basis of said comparing step;   (f) generating an electronic record for said animal comprising said animal's identity, said animal's leukocyte differential count history, said animal's illness history, and said animal's treatment and/or management strategy history; and   (g) repeating steps (a) through (f) until all animals in said group of animals are assigned to either said normal subgroup or said abnormal subgroup and said electronic records are stored in a database.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said collecting step comprises dispensing said sample into a cartridge, and said performing step is carried out with said sample in said cartridge. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said cartridge is pre-warmed to a pre-determined temperature, and said performing step is carried out with a cartridge reader pre-warmed to substantially the same pre-determined temperature. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said collecting step includes transferring said sample to an automated microscope cartridge. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the steps are carried out chute-side or pen-side in an average time of not more than about 5, 2 or 1 minutes. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of administering an antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy to animals of said abnormal subgroup and not to animals of said normal subgroup; (ii) hospitalizing animals of said abnormal subgroup and not animals of said normal subgroup; and/or (iii) quarantining animals of said abnormal subgroup from animals of said normal subgroup. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of feeding out animals of said normal subgroup and/or animals of said abnormal subgroup; and/or (ii) periodically recording the weight of animals of said normal subgroup and/or of animals of said abnormal subgroup. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein animals of said normal subgroup and animals of said abnormal subgroup are fed out together for a period of weeks and/or months while only animals of said abnormal subgroup are administered an antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein animals of said normal subgroup and animals of said abnormal subgroup are fed out together for a period of weeks and/or months while animals of said normal subgroup and animals of said abnormal subgroup are administered an antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy. 
     
     
         28 . A method for transferring health information to one or more parties, wherein health data are collected as described in  claim 19 , uploaded to a web database documenting animals' health status, treatment status and/or subgroup, and made accessible to said one or more parties. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein animals of said abnormal subgroup are segregated from animals of said normal subgroup. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein animals of said abnormal subgroup are not administered an antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said animals are selected from the group consisting of beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said index of infection is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a neutrophil value in a range from X N ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y N ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X N  is about 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, or 1.7×10 3  neutrophils per microliter, and Y N  is about 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, or 12.0×10 3  neutrophils per microliter;   b) a lymphocyte value in a range from X L ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y L ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X L  is about 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, or 7.0×10 3  lymphocytes per microliter, and Y L  is about 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, or 12.3×10 3  lymphocytes per microliter;   c) an eosinophil value in a range from X E ×10 3  cells/microliter to Y E ×10 3  cells/microliter, wherein X E  is 0.0×10 3  eosinophils per microliter and Y E  is about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0×10 3  eosinophils per microliter; and   d) any combination of (a), (b) and (c) above.   
     
     
         33 . An apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a housing having at least a first interior chamber;   (b) an automated microscope in said first interior chamber;   (c) at least one first cartridge dispenser in said first interior chamber;   (d) at least one first cartridge dispenser access door in said housing and operatively associated with said first cartridge dispenser;   (e) at least one first fresh cartridge access port in said housing and operatively associated with said first cartridge dispenser;   (f) a filled cartridge insert port in said housing and operatively associated with said automated microscope; and   (g) at least one heater operatively associated with said housing configured to heat both said automated microscope and said at least a first cartridge dispenser.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 (h) a second cartridge dispenser in said first interior chamber;   (i) a second cartridge dispenser access door in said housing and operatively associated with said second cartridge dispenser; and   (j) a second individual cartridge access port in said housing and operatively associated with said second cartridge dispenser.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a heater controller operatively associated with said at least one heater; and   at least one temperature sensor in said housing operatively associated with said heater controller.   
     
     
         36 . A combination apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a first housing having at least a first interior chamber;   (b) an automated microscope in said first interior chamber;   (c) a second housing having at least a second interior chamber;   (d) at least one first cartridge dispenser in said second interior chamber;   (e) at least one first cartridge dispenser access door in said second housing and operatively associated with said first cartridge dispenser;   (f) at least a first fresh cartridge access port in said second housing and operatively associated with said first cartridge dispenser;   (g) a filled cartridge insert port in said first housing and operatively associated with said automated microscope; and   (h) at least one heater operatively associated with each of said first and second housings configured to heat both said automated microscope and said at least a first cartridge dispenser.   
     
     
         37 . The combination apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 (i) a second cartridge dispenser in said second interior chamber;   (j) a second cartridge dispenser access door in said second housing and operatively associated with said second cartridge dispenser; and   (k) a second individual cartridge access port in said second housing and operatively associated with said second cartridge dispenser.   
     
     
         38 . The combination apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a heater controller operatively associated with each of said at least one heater; and   at least one temperature sensor in each of said housings and operatively associated with said heater controller.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1 , carried out with the apparatus of  claim 33 . 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 1 , carried out with the combination apparatus of  claim 36 .