Drug Delivery Systems and Method of Reducing Foal Infection by Treating Mares with Gallium Salts

A drug delivery system for preventing respiratory bacterial infection in a foal of a mare, the delivery system comprising:

• at least one gallium salt in a therapeutically effective amount and in a form that is substantially non-absorbable by a gastrointestinal system of the mare,
• the at least one gallium salt has an effect of reducing a concentration of pathogenic bacteria present in feces of the mare as compared to feces of the mare prior to receiving the at least one gallium salt;
• and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for delivering the at least one gallium salt to a natural orifice, throat or lungs of the mare.

A method of preventing infection in a foal of a mare, the method comprising

• administering to the mare a drug delivery system comprising
• at least one gallium salt in a therapeutically effective amount and in a form that is substantially non-absorbable by a gastrointestinal system of the mare;
• and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for delivering the at least one gallium salt to a natural orifice, throat or lungs of the mare, the drug delivery system has an effect of decreasing the concentration of R. equi in the mare's feces, and
• the drug delivery system is administered within a predetermined time range prior to an anticipated date of foaling for the mare.