APPLICATION OF ETHNO-VETERINARY PRACTICES & VETERINARY HOMEOPATHY/VETERINARY AYURVEDA IN TREATMENT OF MASTITIS IN DAIRY CATTLE

APPLICATION OF ETHNO-VETERINARY PRACTICES & VETERINARY HOMEOPATHY/VETERINARY AYURVEDA IN TREATMENT OF MASTITIS IN DAIRY CATTLE

 

ANUPRIYA MISRA

B.V.Sc. & A.H. Scholar (III Year)

College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar

Email: anupriyamisra20@gmail.com

 

 

SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT

With the increased indiscriminate use of antibiotics, the world of medicine is witnessing the tremendous rise of anti-microbial resistance (AMR). In such a scenario, alternative forms of medicine like Veterinary Homeopathy, Veterinary Ayurveda and Ethno-veterinary practices have emerged out as an excellent means of maintaining animal healthcare and treatment of various diseases. Bovine Mastitis is one of the most common problems encountered by dairy farmers and results in huge economic losses. Thus in this article, applications of various such alternative approaches of medicine in the treatment of mastitis in dairy animals have been discussed.

 

KEYWORDS

Mastitis, Ethno-veterinary, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Herbal Drugs

 

INTRODUCTION

India is an agriculture based economy with Livestock sector entwined with it. According to Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, the livestock sector has emerged as a vital sector for ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable agriculture system. National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) 70th round survey reveals that more than one-fifth (23 per cent) of agricultural households with very small parcels of land (less than 0.01 hectare) reported livestock as their principal source of income. India boasts all over the globe as the world’s largest milk producing Nation since 1998 and has the largest bovine population in the World, standing at 302.3 million as per 2019 livestock census.

 

In such a scenario of massive dairy sector development potential, Mastitis stands as one of the main hurdles in its growth. Bovine mastitis (mast= breast, itis= inflammation) is a pathological condition characterised by inflammatory reaction of the udder tissue whose etiology varies from non-infectious causes like physical trauma to pathogenic microbial infections. . According to Kennedy and Miller (1993), mastitis is expressed by tissue injury caused by tissue invasive or toxigenic organisms, which become dominant due to upset of balance in microbial population. It is, unequivocally, a condition that is known to cause the greatest loss to the dairy industry since time immemorial.

 

ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS

According to Cervinkova et al.(2013), Mastitis is caused by a wide spectrum of pathogens and, epidemiologically categorized in following categories:

1. Contagious Mastitis, in which udders of infected cows serve as the major reservoir and the infection can spread from animal to animal. It is caused due to microorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Mycoplasma and Corynebacterium bovis. ^[4]
2. Environmental mastitis comprises of those intra-mammary infections which are caused by pathogens whose primary reservoir is the environment in which the cow lives^[5]. It is caused by pathogens such as coli, Klebsiella spp., Strept. dysgalactiaeand Strept. uberis.

Overall, there is a broad spectrum of microorganisms responsible for causing mastitis in bovines, viz., bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and viruses. Even, Physical injury to the mammary region, poor hygiene and/or trauma, also cause this condition.

https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/application-of-ethnoveterinary-practices-veterinary-homeopathy-veterinary-ayurveda-in-treatment-of-mastitis-in-dairy-cattle/

As per Krishnamoorthy and Bhuvana (2013), the severity of the inflammation in mastitis can be classified into a) sub-clinical, b) clinical and c) chronic forms, and its degree is dependent on the nature of the causative pathogen and on the age, breed, immunological health and lactation state of the animal. Subclinical mastitis is characterised by absence of any clinical signs or symptoms and hence is difficult to diagnose. Chronic mastitis is a rare form of the disease but results in persistent inflammation of the mammary gland. The adverse effects of mastitis are seen in the form of  temporary or permanent loss in milk production, poor milk quality, reduction in price, treatment costs, labour costs, premature culling, etc.

 

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF MASTITIS

In conventional treatment, antimicrobial treatment is cardinal for treatment of bovine mastitis and maintenance of udder health. But the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated with indiscriminate and unmonitored use of antibiotics is a matter of grave importance, that cannot be overlooked  In the wake of this, a vast range of alternative  curative methods have started gaining traction, viz., homeopathy, Ayurveda and ethno-veterinary practices. The roles of these alternative medicines in treatment of Bovine mastitis have been discussed below.

1. VETERINARY HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathy has been undergoing resurgence since the late twentieth century, and has become popular again as a form of veterinary medicine in the past few decades as animal owners and veterinarians alike explore it as an alternative to the limitations of conventional medicine. One of the advantages of homeopathy over antibiotics is that milking of animals may be continued.

Some of the most commonly indicated homeopathic formulations in bovine mastitis are:

1. BELLADONNA

It is most commonly used in acute form of mastitis, especially mastitis after parturition, or when the udder is very hot, red, swelled and painful to touch.

1. BRYONIA ALBA

Usually used in cases where udder is hot and painful to touch and animal is immobile, i.e., animal is lying down. It is also indicated in milk fever.

1. APIS MELLIFICA

McLeod(1981) indicated use of APIS MELLIFICA in case of oedematous inflamed udder in heifers. It is also used in erysipelatous inflammation of mammary gland or when the udder is swollen, hard to touch, oedematous and or shiny, red rosy colour.

1. ARNICA MONTANA

It is indicated in mastitis caused due to udder injury, with or without blood in secretions.

1. URTICA ULEANS

McLeod(1981) indicated it for clinical cases where oedema forms plaques sometimes up to perineum. Also used when there is diminished milk secretion after parturition.

1. PHYTOLACCA

It is useful in both chronic and acute mastitis, with sour coagulated milk (acute cases) and small clots (chronic cases). There may be discharge of watery, foetid pus.

1. SILICEA

It is indicated in Summer mastitis caused by wide array of bacteria. It is also useful in chronic mastitis cases associated with Corynebacterium pyogenes where multiple abscesses are formed.

 

 

2. VETERINARY AYURVEDA

 

Veterinary science and knowledge in India has a documented history of around 5000 years available in the form of manuscripts called Veterinary Ayurveda, viz, Mrugayurveda (Ayurveda for Animals) Pashupakshishastra (Ayurveda for birds), Hasthyayurveda (elephants), Ashwayurveda (Ayurveda for horses) etc.

Mastitis, in terms of Ayurveda, is known as “Sthanavidhradi” and encompasses the use of numerous herbs and formulations of its treatment. Kempanna et al. (2018) have reviewed the principles of treatment of mastitis in Ayurveda as:

• Agni deepana (improve enzymatic activity): Improves the status of metabolism.
• Amapachana (metabolise the end  toxins): Cleanses  the toxins  of whole animal and udder.
• Pitta and Rakthashamaka (Pacification):  Pacifies  the  aggravated Pitta dosha and Rakthadooshya
• Srotoshodaka (Purifier):  Cleans  the  channels  of  lactiferous glands.
• VranaShodaka and  Ropaka  (Wound  cleanser):  Cleanses  the wounds (lactiferous).
• Shothahara (Anti-inflammatory): Pacifies the inflammation due to infection.
• Krimihara (Antimicrobial): Decreases the microbial load.

 

Some of the Ayurvedic formulations and treatment strategies for mastitis are as follows:

1. Formulation of Gheekumari (Aloe vera) 2 or 3 petal, Haldi (Curcuma longa/ Turmeric) powder (50gm) and Chunna (Calcium Hydroxide/Lime stone)- 10 gm  is a potent Krimihara (antimicrobial), Pitta shamaka (Pacifies Pitta humour), Varnashodhak (wound cleanser) and Shothahara (anti-inflammatory) agent.
2. Heated iron  should  be  dipped  in water.  Drinking  this  water aids in curing Stanaroga (udder diseases) immediately.

 

3. ETHNO-VETERINARY PRACTICES

 

Ethno-veterinary medicine refers to the people’s knowledge, skills, methods, practices and beliefs about the care of their animals (McCorkle, 1986). With a medical culture dating to about 5000 years ago, Indian community has gathered a plethora of traditional knowledge and experiences of people from all ages of time, related to animal healthcare and management. Some of such ethno-veterinary practices related to treatment and management of mastitis in dairy animals, from different communities of India are listed below:

1. A combination of Benachu kallu (white coloured stone), desi butter, betel leaf and Benzoin resin (sambrani) is used in treatment of mastitis by the people of Haniyuru village of Bangalore district. (Mooventhan et al., 2016)
2. In some communities, a combination of Turmeric powder (Curcuma longa), Drumstick leaves (Moringa oleifera) and Common salt (Sodium chloride) is also used to control the clinical mastitis.
3. For relief from teat obstruction, a freshly plucked and clean Neem stalk is coated with a mixture of turmeric and ghee, and carefully inserted in the affected teat in anti-clockwise direction.
4. For udder oedema, a combination of mustard oil, garlic and turmeric powder is applied over the affected area.
5. National Dairy Development Board recommends feeding of two sliced lemons at a time to the animal twice daily for three days.
6. If there is blood in milk due to mastitis, feed a fine paste of curry leaves and jaggery to the animal twice a day, till the condition resolves.
7. Mustafa and Shah (2020) have reviewed the use of essential oil from various Mentha spp. because of its antimicrobial and effective healing activity.
8. Ibrahim conducted a study to investigate the efficacy of herbal agent to treat subclinical mastitis among dairy cows. In the study, garlic was used in combination with Vitamin E+ Se and Citrus limonum(lemon) (Ibrahim et al., 2016). Positive result was achieved as many cases as possible of mastitis found to be cured. The use of garlic in the study displayed many advantage such as raise in the number and percentage of lymphocyte, increasing composition of milk and the blood parameters as well as improving immune system due to the active ingredient ‘allicin’ in the garlic (Ibrahim et al., 2016)

 

CONCLUSION

 

Mastitis is one of the most common and grave problem adversely affecting the dairy sector all around the globe. Inflammation occurs when leukocytes are released into the mammary gland, usually in response to pathogen invading the teat canal or occasionally by chemical, mechanical, or thermal trauma on the udder. Milk secreting tissue and various ducts throughout the mammary gland are damaged due to toxins released by the bacteria resulting in reduced milk yield and quality. The conventional extensive and non-judicious use of Antibiotics and Anti-inflammatory drugs in treatment of Mastitis has led to emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance and various side effects respectively. Alternative forms of medicine have proved to be very effective in such a scenario, sans any major side effects to the animal health or to the environment. Veterinary Homeopathy and Veterinary Ayurveda have a wide array of formulations and medications, as discussed in this article, which have proved to be very effective in treatment of Bovine mastitis. Various Ethno-veterinary practices have been followed by people from time immemorial and have been quite successful in eliminating the health care problems in animals, including mastitis.

 

REFERENCES

1. Livestock Censuses, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.
2. Kennedy, P.C. and Miller, RB. (1993). The mammary gland. In: Pathology of Domestic Animals. Vol. 3. 4th edn. KVF Jubb, P.C. Kennedy and N. Palmer (Editor). Academic press Inc. pp. 454-469.
3. Cervinkova, D., Vlkova, H., Borodacova, I., Makovcova, J., Babak, V., Lorencova, A., Vrtkova, I., Marosevic, D., Jaglic, Z.(2013). Prevalence of mastitis pathogens in milk from clinically healthy cows. Vet Med. 2013;58(11):567–75
4. Radostits, O.M., Gay, C.C., Hinchcliff, K.W., Constable, P.D. (2007). Veterinary Medicine: A text book of the disease of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats. 10th ed. London: Elsevier Ltd; 2007.
5. Smith, K.L., Todhunter, D.A., Schoenberger, P.S. (1985). Environmental mastitis: cause, prevalence, prevention. J Dairy Sci. 1985;68:1531–53.
6. Krishnamoorthy, P. and Bhuvana, M. (2013). Pathogenesis of Bovine Mastitis. IN: Model Training Course On “Bovine mastitis: Theoretical and Practical Consideration in Management” (2013)
7. MacLeod, G. (1981). The treatment of cattle by homeopathy. Health Science Press, Saffron Walden, Essex, England. 148 pages.
8. Dhamotharan, S. (2019). Homoeopathy for Bovine Mastitis. https://www.homeobook.com/homoeopathy-for-bovine-mastitis/

1. Kempanna, K., Nair, B., Punniamurthy, N., Venkateshappa, G. (2018). Ayurveda Understanding of Mastitis in Diary Animals. Journal of Ayurveda Medical Sciences. 3. 351-355. 10.5530/jams.2018.3.15.
2. McCorkle, C. M. (1986). An introduction to ethnoveterinary research and development. J. Ethnobiol., 6: 129-149
3. Mooventhan, P. & Manimaran, A. & Kumar, R. & Selvan, Sakthivel & Prakash. M, Arul. (2016). Indigenous ethnoveterinary medicinal practices for management of mastitis in dairy cattle. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 50. 10.18805/ijar.8568.

12. NATIONAL DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD.  Ethnoveterinary formulation for Mastitis/blood in milk. https://nddb.coop/node/1593

1. Mustafa, S. and Shah, U. S. M. (2020). Ethnoveterinary: Traditional Medicine in Treating Mastitis – A Review. https://www.iarconsortium.org/articles/248_Ethoveterinary_Traditional_Medicine_in_Treating_Mastitis_A_Review
2. Ibrahim, M., Khan, J., Khan, M., Shehzad, W., Avais, M. and Husnain, A. (2016). Efficacy and Effects of Various Allopathic and Herbal Immuno-potentiating Agents for Curing of Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows. Veterinary Sciences: Research and Reviews. 2(2): 47-51.