Antibiotic Focussed Questions

Question 1

A cow presents with retained foetal membranes and signs of metritis. You suspect a bacterial infection involving Trueperella pyogenes. Which antibiotic is the most appropriate choice for systemic treatment?

A) Oxytetracycline
B) Amoxicillin/clavulanate
C) Florfenicol
D) Enrofloxacin

Answer 1

B) Amoxicillin/clavulanate

Question 2

A sow has post-parturient metritis-mastitis-agalactia (MMA) syndrome. Which antibiotic class is commonly used in treatment?

A) Aminoglycosides
B) Macrolides
C) Penicillins
D) Fluoroquinolones

Answer 2

C) Penicillins

Question 3

A farmer wants to prevent post-parturient infections in cows. What is the most appropriate antimicrobial strategy?

A) Blanket intrauterine antibiotic therapy
B) Selective antibiotic use based on retained placenta signs
C) Prophylactic systemic fluoroquinolones in all cows post-calving
D) No antibiotic use, focus on hygiene and nutrition

Answer 3

B) Selective antibiotic use based on retained placenta signs

Question 4

A neonatal calf has severe diarrhoea caused by E. coli. Which antibiotic should be avoided due to resistance concerns?

A) Aminoglycosides
B) Fluoroquinolones
C) Penicillins
D) Sulfonamides

Answer 4

B) Fluoroquinolones

Question 5

A pig farm has an outbreak of post-weaning diarrhoea due to Lawsonia intracellularis. What is the first-line antibiotic for herd treatment?

A) Macrolides (Tylosin)
B) Fluoroquinolones
C) 1st-generation cephalosporins
D) Metronidazole

Answer 5

A) Macrolides (Tylosin)

Question 6

A calf is diagnosed with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) caused by Mannheimia haemolytica. Which antibiotic is commonly used for metaphylaxis?

A) Enrofloxacin
B) Tulathromycin (Macrolide)
C) Tetracyclines
D) Penicillin

Answer 6

B) Tulathromycin (Macrolide)

Question 7

A piglet presents with respiratory distress and is diagnosed with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. What is the first-line treatment?

A) Beta-lactams (Penicillin G)
B) Aminoglycosides
C) Fluoroquinolones
D) Tylosin (Macrolide)

Answer 7

D) Tylosin (Macrolide)

Question 8

Which antibiotic is most appropriate for treating severe pneumonia caused by Histophilus somni in cattle?

A) Florfenicol
B) Trimethoprim-sulphonamide
C) Amoxicillin
D) Gentamicin

Answer 8

A) Florfenicol

Question 9

A dairy cow has interdigital necrobacillosis (foul in the foot) due to Fusobacterium necrophorum. What is the best antibiotic choice?

A) Penicillin G
B) Oxytetracycline
C) Fluoroquinolones
D) Aminoglycosides

Answer 9

A) Penicillin G

Question 10

A sheep presents with footrot due to Dichelobacter nodosus. What is the best antibiotic choice?

A) Florfenicol
B) Tylosin
C) Oxytetracycline
D) Amoxicillin

Answer 10

C) Oxytetracycline

Question 11

A calf with umbilical abscessation and septicaemia requires antibiotic therapy. Which antibiotic is most appropriate?

A) Enrofloxacin
B) Penicillin G + Aminoglycoside
C) Oxytetracycline
D) Macrolides

Answer 11

B) Penicillin G + Aminoglycoside

Question 11

A cow presents with mild mastitis due to Streptococcus uberis. What is the most appropriate antibiotic choice?

A) 1st-generation cephalosporins
B) Penicillin G
C) Fluoroquinolones
D) Macrolides

Answer 11

A) 1st-generation cephalosporins

Question 12

A dairy farm has an outbreak of coliform mastitis. What is the best treatment strategy?

A) Systemic and intramammary antibiotics
B) NSAIDs and fluids
C) Fluoroquinolones
D) Blanket dry cow therapy

Answer 12

B) NSAIDs and fluids

Question 13

A cow is diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis due to Trueperella pyogenes. What is the most appropriate antibiotic?

A) Fluoroquinolones
B) Penicillin G
C) Aminoglycosides
D) Macrolides

Answer 13

B) Penicillin G

Question 13

Which antibiotic is most appropriate for treating a liver abscess in cattle caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum?

A) Penicillin G
B) Oxytetracycline
C) Tylosin
D) Aminoglycosides

Answer 13

B) Oxytetracycline

Question 13

A pig is diagnosed with bacterial pericarditis caused by Streptococcus suis. What is the best antibiotic choice?

A) Amoxicillin
B) Oxytetracycline
C) Tylosin
D) Penicillin G

Answer 13

A) Amoxicillin

Question 14

Which antibiotic is the best choice for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxaemia in lambs?

A) Tetracyclines
B) Fluoroquinolones
C) High dose penicillin G
D) Macrolides

Answer 14

C) High dose penicillin G

Question 15

A cow is diagnosed with Corynebacterium renale-induced pyelonephritis. What is the first-line treatment?

A) Oxytetracycline
B) Penicillin G
C) Fluoroquinolones
D) Tylosin

Question 16

A dairy farm has multiple cases of retained foetal membranes. Which antibiotic is most appropriate for systemic treatment if the cows develop metritis?

A) Amoxicillin/clavulanate
B) Tylosin
C) Gentamicin
D) Fluoroquinolones

Answer 16

A) Amoxicillin/clavulanate

Retained foetal membrane cows only receive antibiotics if they are systemically unwell.

Metritis cows only receive antibiotics if they are grade 2 or 3

Question 17

A cow presents with pyrexia, a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and inappetence 7 days post-calving. You diagnose metritis Grade 2. What is the first-line systemic antibiotic?

A) Trimethoprim-sulphonamide
B) Enrofloxacin
C) Amoxicillin
D) Macrolides

Answer 17

C) Amoxicillin

Question 17

A beef farmer reports multiple abortions at 6-7 months of gestation. Brucella abortus is suspected. What is your first action?

A) Contact APHA immediately
B) Start systemic penicillin treatment
C) Advise culling affected animals
D) Submit milk samples for routine culture

Answer 17

A) Contact APHA immediately

Question 18

A ewe has a purulent vaginal discharge 2 weeks post-lambing. What is the most appropriate systemic antibiotic?

A) Macrolides
B) Tetracyclines
C) Penicillin G
D) Fluoroquinolones

Answer 18

C) Penicillin G

Question 19

A 5-day-old calf presents with severe diarrhoea and dehydration. Cryptosporidium is suspected. What is the most appropriate treatment?

A) Oral fluids and NSAIDs
B) Penicillin G
C) Fluoroquinolones
D) Trimethoprim-sulphonamide

Answer 19

A) Oral fluids and NSAIDs

Question 20

A pig farmer reports post-weaning diarrhoea. You suspect E. coli. What is the best antibiotic choice?

A) Amoxicillin
B) Trimethoprim-sulphonamide
C) Fluoroquinolones
D) Metronidazole

Answer 20

B) Trimethoprim-sulphonamide

Question 21

A dairy farmer reports neonatal calf diarrhoea with positive Salmonella Dublin culture. What is the appropriate treatment approach? A) Systemic fluoroquinolones B) Oral fluids and NSAIDs; antibiotics only for septicaemic cases C) Blanket antibiotic use in all scouring calves D) Metronidazol

Answer 21

B) Oral fluids and NSAIDs; antibiotics only for septicaemic cases

Question 22

A 3-month-old calf has a fever, increased respiratory effort, and nasal discharge. You suspect Mannheimia haemolytica. What is the best antibiotic choice? A) Florfenicol B) Penicillin G C) Tylosin D) Metronidazole

Answer 22

A) Florfenicol Part of the BRD complex. Broad spectrum first line treatment are macrolides and phenicols. Vaccination protocols are used for prevention

Question 23

A dairy cow presents with acute respiratory distress and is diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. What is the most appropriate antibiotic choice? A) Trimethoprim-sulphonamide B) Amoxicillin/clavulanate C) Fluoroquinolones D) Tylosin

Answer 23

B) Amoxicillin/clavulanate

Question 23

Which antibiotic is commonly used in outbreaks of Mycoplasma bovis pneumonia in calves? A) Penicillin G B) Fluoroquinolones C) Macrolides (Tylosin, Tulathromycin) D) Aminoglycosides

Answer 23

C) Macrolides (Tylosin, Tulathromycin)

Question 24

A dairy cow is diagnosed with foul-in-the-foot (Fusobacterium necrophorum). What is the first-line antibiotic? A) Penicillin G B) Enrofloxacin C) Oxytetracycline D) Macrolides

Answer 24

C) Oxytetracycline

Question 25

A flock of sheep presents with footrot caused by Dichelobacter nodosus. What is the best antibiotic treatment? A) Penicillin G B) Tylosin C) Oxytetracycline D) Fluoroquinolones

Answer 25

C) Oxytetracycline

Question 26

A 2-week-old calf presents with septic arthritis. What is the most appropriate first-line antibiotic? A) Macrolides B) Fluoroquinolones C) Penicillin D) Metronidazole

Answer 26

C) Penicillin OR Oxytetracyline OR TMPS

Question 27

A cow presents with mild clinical mastitis due to Streptococcus uberis. What is the best treatment? A) Intramammary 1st-generation cephalosporin B) Fluoroquinolones C) Penicillin G D) Macrolides

Answer 27

A) Intramammary 1st-generation cephalosporin

Question 28

A pig presents with erysipelas (Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae). What is the most appropriate antibiotic? A) Aminoglycosides B) Penicillin G C) Fluoroquinolones D) Metronidazole

Answer 28

B) Penicillin G

Question 29

A cow presents with severe peritonitis following rumenotomy. What is the best antibiotic choice? A) Fluoroquinolones B) Penicillin or Oxytetracycline C) Oxytetracycline D) Macrolides

Answer 29

B) Penicillin orOxytetracycline

Question 30

A sheep presents with caseous lymphadenitis (Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis). What is the first-line treatment? A) Fluoroquinolones B) Aminoglycosides C) Penicillin G D) No antibiotics

Answer 30

D) No antibiotics There is no treatment for CLA

Question 31

A pig farm experiences an outbreak of swine dysentery. What is the first-line antibiotic treatment? A) Fluoroquinolones B) Tylosin (Macrolide) C) Penicillin G D) Cephalosporins

Answer 31

B) Tylosin (Macrolide)

Question 32

A poultry farm experiences an outbreak of Mycoplasma gallisepticum, leading to respiratory disease. What is the first-line antibiotic treatment? A) Penicillin G B) Tylosin (Macrolide) C) Enrofloxacin D) Oxytetracycline

Answer 32

B) Tylosin (Macrolide)

Question 33

A flock of broilers presents with swollen joints and lameness. You suspect infectious synovitis due to Mycoplasma synoviae. What is the best antibiotic treatment? A) Amoxicillin B) Florfenicol C) Tylosin (Macrolide) D) Cephalosporins

Answer 33

C) Tylosin (Macrolide)

Question 34

A layer farm has increased mortality due to E. coli-associated colibacillosis. Which antibiotic is commonly used for treatment? A) Amoxicillin B) Fluoroquinolones C) Metronidazole D) Tetracyclines

Answer 34

A) Amoxicillin

Question 35

A farmer reports bloody droppings and weight loss in a broiler flock. Necropsy reveals caecal cores, suggesting Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis. What is the most appropriate antibiotic? A) Amoxicillin B) Penicillin G C) Fluoroquinolones D) Macrolides

Answer 35

A) Amoxicillin

Question 36

A broiler farm reports severe diarrhoea and depression in birds, with laboratory confirmation of Salmonella enterica. What is the most appropriate response? A) Immediate antibiotic treatment with fluoroquinolones B) Cull affected birds and use amoxicillin in the entire flock C) Notify APHA and follow a disease control plan D) Mass medication with tetracyclines

Answer 36

C) Notify APHA and follow a disease control plan

Question 37

A farmer reports an outbreak of fowl cholera (Pasteurella multocida) in their backyard poultry. What is the best antibiotic choice? A) Fluoroquinolones B) Sulfonamides C) Metronidazole D) Penicillin G

Answer 37

B) Sulfonamides

Question 38

A flock of laying hens presents with respiratory distress, sneezing, and nasal discharge. Avibacterium paragallinarum is suspected (infectious coryza). What is the first-line antibiotic treatment? A) Sulfonamides (Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine) B) Tetracyclines C) Penicillin G D) Macrolides

Answer 38

A) Sulfonamides (Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine)

Question 39

A backyard poultry owner presents a chicken with a swollen eye and nasal discharge. You suspect Chlamydia psittaci. What is the most appropriate treatment? A) Doxycycline (Tetracycline) B) Amoxicillin C) Fluoroquinolones D) Sulfonamides

Answer 39

A) Doxycycline (Tetracycline)

Question 40

A broiler flock shows neurological signs, head tilting, and ataxia. Histopathology confirms Enterococcus cecorum-associated spinal osteomyelitis. What is the most appropriate treatment? A) Amoxicillin B) Fluoroquinolones C) Macrolides D) Oxytetracycline

Answer 40

A) Amoxicllin

Question 41

A farmer complains about an outbreak of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) causing respiratory disease. Which antibiotic is most effective? A) Tetracyclines B) Penicillin G C) Metronidazole D) Cephalosporins

Answer 41

A) Tetracyclines

Question 42

A 6-month-old alpaca presents with severe pneumonia, and Mannheimia haemolytica is cultured. What is the best antibiotic choice? A) Enrofloxacin B) Florfenicol C) Metronidazole D) Amoxicillin

Answer 42

B) Florfenicol

Question 43

A 3-year-old llama has severe ulcerative pododermatitis (‘sore foot’) caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. What is the most appropriate antibiotic? A) Penicillin G B) Fluoroquinolones C) Tylosin D) Macrolides

Answer 43

A) Penicillin G

Question 44

A young alpaca is diagnosed with Clostridium perfringens enterotoxaemia. What is the first-line antibiotic? A) Penicillin G B) Tylosin C) Oxytetracycline D) Fluoroquinolones

Answer 44

A) Penicillin G

Question 45

A 4-year-old llama presents with abscesses along the jaw and neck, and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is suspected. What is the most appropriate treatment? A) Fluoroquinolones B) Penicillin G C) Macrolides D) Aminoglycosides

Answer 45

B) Penicillin G

Question 46

A 6-year-old alpaca has had progressive weight loss despite good appetite. Bloodwork shows hypoalbuminemia, and faecal culture reveals Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease). What is your best course of action? A) Start enrofloxacin and monitor response B) No effective treatment; cull and implement biosecurity measures C) Treat with long-term penicillin and NSAIDs D) Isolate and administer macrolides

Answer 46

B) No effective treatment; cull and implement biosecurity measures

Question 47

A large layer farm has been experiencing chronic respiratory disease in multiple flocks, with birds showing nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and a drop in egg production. Previous PCR results confirmed Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and tylosin treatment has already been administered twice. The farmer wants to continue antibiotic use. What is your best approach? A) Repeat tylosin treatment at a higher dose B) Conduct antimicrobial sensitivity testing and consider doxycycline if indicated C) Mass medicate with fluoroquinolones D) Cull all infected birds and restock

Answer 47

B) Conduct antimicrobial sensitivity testing and consider doxycycline if indicated

Question 48

Routine testing on a broiler farm reveals Salmonella enterica in multiple birds. The flock is asymptomatic, but the farmer wants to use amoxicillin to "clear the infection." What is your best action? A) Notify APHA and advise on strict biosecurity B) Treat all birds with amoxicillin for 5 days C) Cull all infected birds and restock D) Recommend vaccination of the flock

Answer 48

A) Notify APHA and advise on strict biosecurity

Question 49

A broiler farm reports high mortality in birds aged 3-5 weeks. Necropsy findings show thickened small intestines, gas-filled caeca, and Clostridium perfringens is isolated from gut samples. What is the best treatment approach? A) Metronidazole via drinking water B) Amoxicillin and dietary management (e.g., lower protein, probiotics) C) Immediate culling of all affected birds D) Macrolides such as tylosin

Answer 49

B) Amoxicillin and dietary management (e.g., lower protein, probiotics)

Question 50

A dairy cow presents with a hot, swollen udder, severe dehydration, hypothermia, and recumbency. Milk culture confirms Escherichia coli mastitis. What is your immediate treatment plan? A) IV fluids, NSAIDs, systemic amoxicillin-clavulanate, and supportive care B) Intramammary cephalosporins and oral NSAIDs C) Immediate culling to prevent herd spread D) Fluoroquinolone injection and monitor

Answer 50

A) IV fluids, NSAIDs, systemic amoxicillin-clavulanate, and supportive care Remember --> antibiotics are not treating the E.coli as that causes endotoxamia rather than bacteraemia. The antibiotic are for secondary infections that are caused.

Question 51

A beef farm has multiple calves (2-4 weeks old) with swollen joints, reluctance to stand, and pyrexia. You diagnose septic polyarthritis caused by Trueperella pyogenes. Which antibiotic regimen is most appropriate? A) Systemic penicillin + joint lavage and NSAIDs B) Systemic fluoroquinolones C) Metronidazole and supportive care D) No treatment; cull affected calves

Answer 51

A) Systemic penicillin + joint lavage and NSAIDs ✅

Question 52

A 4-year-old bull presents with intermittent pyrexia, tachycardia, and weight loss. Auscultation reveals a systolic heart murmur, and blood cultures confirm Trueperella pyogenes. What is the most appropriate antibiotic therapy? A) High-dose penicillin for 4-6 weeks B) Oxytetracycline C) Fluoroquinolones D) Aminoglycosides

Answer 52

A) High-dose penicillin for 4-6 weeks

Question 53

A 5-year-old ewe presents with a blackened, cold mammary gland and systemic illness. You diagnose gangrenous mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. What is your best approach? A) Immediate systemic penicillin + NSAIDs + fluids B) Intramammary macrolides C) Enrofloxacin injection D) Cull immediately

Answer 53

A) Immediate systemic penicillin + NSAIDs + fluids