APPLICATION OF ETHNOVETERINARY PRACTICES & VETERINARY HOMEOPATHY/ VETERINARY AYURVEDA IN TREAMENT OF MASTITIS IN DAIRY CATTLE

APPLICATION OF ETHNOVETERINARY PRACTICES & VETERINARY HOMEOPATHY/ VETERINARY AYURVEDA IN TREAMENT OF MASTITIS IN DAIRY CATTLE

Dr. Shiv Kumar Yadav¹ and Dr. Alok Kumar Yadav²

1. Assistant Professor cum Junior Scientist, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry,

Ranchi Veterinary College, BAU,  Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

2. Veterinary Officer, CCBF, Andeshnagar, Lakhimpur-Kheri (U.P.)

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

ABSTRACT:

The evidence from archeological sciences states that many countries were having various methods and practices for management of animal diseases. Veterinary science in India has a documented history of around 5000 years. There exists codified veterinary knowledge in
the form of medical texts, manuscripts on various aspects of veterinary care such as health management of cattle, horses, birds elephants. The veterinary and animal husbandry practices were present and grown in the Vedic, Puranic and extending beyond Epic periods. This knowledge is available in the form of manuscripts called Veterinary Ayurveda, viz Mrugayurveda (Ayurveda for Animals) Pashupakshishastra (Ayurveda for birds), Hasthyayurveda (Ayurveda for elephants), Ashwayurveda (Ayurveda for horses) etc. Understanding the etiopathogenesis and management of animal diseases through Ayurveda is need of the day. Mastitis is the economically devastating diseases of dairy animals. The saints of Ayurveda have explained in detail about mastitis as Sthanavidhradi. The management and treatment modalities have clearly mentioned in the classics of Ayurveda. This traditional system of India called Mrugayurveda (Ayurveda for Animals) or Veterinary Ayurveda is robust and time tested. It has been in practice since age old. This robust system of medicine can address the current challenges of mainstream medicine. Many herbs and formulation from Ethnoknowledge and Ayurveda were in practice in ancient India. So it is important to validate and reintroduce these time tested formulations and herbs for animal health.

Keywords: Mastitis, Sthanavidhradi, Ethnoveterinary, Veterinary Homeopathy/ Veterinary Ayurveda, Dairy Cattle.

 

INTRODUCTION:

High producing lactating cows are very much susceptible with mastitis which is the most common problem and costly disease of dairy cattle throughout whole world. In mastitis, due to faulty milking practices invasion of bacteria through teat canal leads to inflammation of udder parenchyma cells and tissues. It affects both the quality and quantity of milk produced. Mastitis is defined inflammation of mammary gland, due to effects of infection caused by the bacteria or mycotic pathogens. Mastitis is an infectious disease resulting in an inflammatory reaction in the mammary gland of the cattle. It is the most common disease in dairy cattle characterized by various degrees of severity ranging from a mild disease with no gross changes in the secreted milk but there is an increase in inflammatory cells i.e. somatic cells in the milk, to a moderate disease with an increase in inflammatory cells and gross changes in the secreted milk. It is accompanied by signs of inflammation in the mammary gland such as swelling, redness, and painfulness etc. A pathologic change to milk secreting epithelial cells by the inflammatory process often brings about a decrease in functional capacity. Depending upon pathogen, functional losses may continue into further lactations also, which may decrease productivity and potential weight gain for suckling off-springs. Although most infections result in relatively mild clinical or subclinical local inflammation, while more severe cases can lead to agalactia. Mastitis has been reported in almost all domestic mammals with a worldwide geographic distribution. Climatic conditions, housing, seasonal variations, density of livestock populations, bedding and husbandry practices may affect the incidence of mastitis and its etiology. However, it is of greatest economic importance in species which primarily function as producers of milk for dairy products, particularly the dairy cattle.

Mastitis can be identified by detecting abnormalities in the milk, alteration in pH of milk, udder parenchyma with or without systemic illness. Huge economic losses are mostly due to pathogen-mediated damage of milk secreting tissue of udder and subsequent decreased milk production of affected cattle. Mastitis progresses to a severe disease with above changes in the milk and systemic signs including fever, depression, and “off-feed” and occasionally death may occur in most severe cases. Farmers generally discard milk from the cows with clinical cases of mastitis and from cows undergoing antibiotic treatment according to withdrawal periods in order to provide sufficient time for antibiotics to clear from the cow’s body.  Thus, the cattles diagnosed with clinical sign of mastitis, or those with persistent subclinical mastitis have a greater risk of being culled. The udder health issues are one of the top three reasons for culling of dairy cattle. But low milk production associated with mastitis is the main leading cause of culling in dairy herds.Toxic mastitis is an acute form of disease resulting in severe inflammation and septicemia that can lead to cow death. The clinical signs in the form of flakes or clots to purulent exudate, discolored, bloody or watery milk, hardening or swelling of the gland and the presence of pain, heat or reddish discoloration of the skin of inflamed glands are prominent. Systemic signs of illness in mastitis include increased rectal temperature, decreased reticulorumen motility, anorexia, lethargy and death. Severity of clinical mastitis cases can range from mild to severe. Although subclinical mastitis is more difficult to identify, monitoring of somatic cell count or bacteriological culturing of milk can helps to detect the presence of mastitis.

In mastitis, most of the infections are caused by various species of streptococci, staphylococci, gram negative rods especially lactose fermenting organisms commonly termed coliforms. From an epidemiologic point of view, the source of infection may be regarded as contagious or environmental. Except for mycoplasma spp., which may spread from cow to cow through aerosol transmission and invade udder tissue and subsequently produces bacteremia, contagious pathogens spread during milking by milker’s hand or the liners of the milking unit and this include thespecies like staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus agalactiae and corynaebacterium bovis.The bedding used for housing cattle is the major or primary source of environmental pathogens, but the contaminated teat dips, intramammary infusions; water hoses used for udder preparation during milking, water pond, teat trauma, skin lesions and flies have all been incriminated as sources of infection.

According to the clinical symptoms mastitis may be classified as clinical mastitis and subclinical mastitis. Subclinical mastitis usually leads the clinical form as it is of longer period, difficult to diagnose, adversely affect the milk production and quality of milk and also comprises a reservoir of pathogens that lead to disease of other animals within the herd. Mastitis is the most cost intensive production disease in dairy industry, causing a considerable financial loss.

 

SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS

It is the presence of an infection without apparent signs of local inflammation or systemic involvement. Although transient episodes of abnormal milkor udder inflammation may appear.These infections are for the most part asymptomatic and if the infection persists for at least two months or more, are called as chronic. Once infection established, many of these infections persists for entire lactation. Detection of subclinical mastitis is best done by examination of milk for somatic cell counts predominately neutrophils by using the CaliforniaMastitis Test and it is positively correlated with the presence of infection.Higher the somatic cell counts in any herd, higher the prevalence of infection in the herd. Causative agents must be detected by bacterial culture of milk sample.Subclinical mastitis is important due to the fact that control of bovine mastitis is challenge because of multiple etiological agents. Most of the antibiotics are used for the treatment and control of mastitis, but intra-mammary infusion of antibiotics for mastitis therapy was cited as a major reason for contamination of milk and repeated and frequent use of antibiotic therapy leads to antibiotic resistance. Increasing emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens is further suspected to complicate the effectiveness of the treatment of mastitis.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

The prevalence of infected cows varies from 20- 75 % and quarters from 5- 40%. Many different pathogens can develop a chronic infection that will only manifest clinical signs of mastitis. The primary focus of most subclinical mastitis programe is to decrease the prevalence of the contagious pathogensStreptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus as well as other gram positive cocci, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis,Enterococci and numerous other coagulase-negative Staphylococci including S. hyicus, S. epidermidis, S. xylosus and S. intermedius. For contagious pathogens, the adult lactating cows are most at risk for infection, either while lactating or during the dry period. The primary reservoir of infection is the mammary glandand transmission occurs at milking with either milker’s hand or milking equipments.For the contagious pathogens and coagulase negative staphylococci, there is little or no seasonal variationin incidence of infection.

 

TREATMENT

Therapy isgiven on the premise that treatment cost will be out-weighed by production gains following elimination of infection. In the case of contagious pathogens the elimination may also result in a decrease of the reservoir of infection for previously non infected cows.

Most other streptococci also show in vitro susceptibility to numerous antibacterials, especially β- lactum drugs. Many streptococcal infections are not as easily cured as it is caused by S. agalactiae. Generally, subclinical infections caused by S. uberis and S. dysagalactiae should be preferentially treated at the end of lactation with intramammary infusions. S. aureus intramammary infections often result in deep seated abscesses. Therapy is more difficult, as resistance to antibacterials is more common compared with streptococcal infections and S. aureus may survive intracellularly following phagocytosis when antibacterial concentrations are decreased.

The success rate of therapy for chronic subclinincal intramammary infections caused byS. aureus may be increased by using both parenteral and intramammary therapy. It should be administered for periods long enough 5 – 10 days to allow effective destruction of the pathogen. Depending upon susceptibility test, lipophilic antibacterial drugs that distribute well into mammary gland cell/tissue such as oxytetracycline @ 11 mg/kg, OD are the best candidates for systemic administration. Affected quarter should be observed bacteriologically for ≥30 days to encompass the refractory period when bacteria may not be isolated.Occasionally, premature agalactia will occur in chronically infected quarters i.e. particularly quarters infected with resistant pathogens and culling may be a practical option for such cows. Alternatively, it is common to dry off the infected quarter and continue to milk the cow. The goal is to eliminate the infection by developing fibrosis of the affected quarter, thus reducing the risk of further pathogenic changes or systemic effects on the cow, as well as lowering risk of infection for other cows.

CLINICAL MASTITIS

It is an inflammatory response to infection causing visibly abnormal milk such as Color, fibrin clots. As the inflammation increases, changes in udder may also be apparent i.e. swelling, heat, pain, redness increases. If the inflammatory responses include systemic involvement such as fever, anorexia, shock,the case is called as severe. If onset is very rapid with severe clinical sign, it is known as an acute case of mastitis. Any number of quarters may be infected simultaneously in subclinical mastitis. Typically only one quarter at a time will show clinical mastitis. However it is not uncommon for clinical episodes of mastitis caused by mycoplasma to affect multiple quarters.Gangrenous mastitis can also occur, particularly when subclinical chronic infections of Staphylococcus aureus become severe at times of immunosuppression i.e. at parturition. For detection of subclinical mastitis, culture of milk samples collected fromaffected quarters is the only reliable method to determine the etiology of clinical cases.

When the balance between host defenses and invading pathogens reflect a marked inflammatory response, clinical signs become apparent. Infections from any pathogen can be clinical or subclinical depending mostly on the duration of infection, host status and virulence of pathogen. The control of clinical mastitis usually focuses on the prevention and elimination of pathogens which arises from environmental reservoir. Hence the epidemiology and prevention of clinical mastitis is similar to the concepts regarding the control of subclinical mastitis.

TYPES OF MASTITIS ON THE BASIS OF DURATION AND CAUSATIVE AGENT

ACUTE FORM.

In acute form, which frequently accompanies parturition, and also, in
less severe form, at drying off, the onset is usually sudden, and the condition can be
recognized by inflammation of the gland and changes in the quality and quantity of milk. Inflammation takes place in several forms ranging from slight edema to hot painful enlargement. Acute form is seen at any time during lactation, most often seen as a sequel to calving.
CHRONIC FORM

In case of chronic mastitis, feverish manifestations are usually absent,although exacerbations can occur. The mammary gland shows fibrous induration in the region of the milk cistern and the milk itself shows small clots.

MASTITIS CAUSED BY STREPTOCOCCI

In dairy herds where good hygiene andmanagement are poorly practised, Streptococci show a morbidity rate of 20-25%. It is lesscommon in well organised herds, but can still cause a high loss of production, though rarelyresulting in the death of the animal. There is a primary fever which persists for 24hours, but this systemic reaction is invariably mild and is associated with Streptococcus dysgalacticae, Streptococcus agalacticae and Streptococcus uberis develops a more acute syndrome with severe inflammation of quarters and abnormality of milk.

MASTITIS CAUSED BY STAPHYLOCOCCI

There is frequently a per-acute form developing a few days after parturition, and this can be highly fatal, the quarter becoming swollen and purple, and systemic involvement is very rapid. The chronic form of this type is characterized by a slowly developing induration of udder tissue with watery secretion leading to atrophy of affected quarter.

MASTITIS CAUSED BY E. COLI.

Per-acute involvement is very common and can result in toloss of function of affected quarters and death in many cases. The secretion is thin andyellow contains small bran-like flakes. Temperature may be very high indicating asevere systemic involvement.

SUMMER MASTITIS CAUSED BY CORYNEBACTERIUM PYOGENES

Summer mastitis commences acutely with severe systemic reaction. The quarters involved become indurated and producing a thick cheese-like secretion. The udder later shows abscesses which burst through the outer skin, producing creamy pus with occasional sloughing of tissues. Corynebacteria are well known for the production of invasive toxins causing
systemic symptoms.

HERBAL THERAPY OF MASTITIS

Herbal medicinal plants are being used for the treatment of various human and livestock by the local peoples. It is a well known fact that several herbs, shrubs and plants are an important source of ethno-veterinary medicines. Ethno-veterinary practices are more common in almost all developing and developed countries especially in India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, USA, and Bangladesh etc. Herbal medicines serve as safer alternatives as growth promoters due to their suitability and preference, lower cost of its production, and cultivation, improved feed efficiency, fast growth and lowered mortality in dairy cattle.

The various components of several herbs, shrubs and plants are used as medicines for treatment of animal diseases. The herbal medicines comprise plant-based medicines can be used for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic application in animal health care and prevention of diseases. Ethno-veterinary knowledge is acquired through practical experience and has traditionally been passed down orally from generation to generation. Different central & state Universities viz. Central Drug Research Institute, Anand Agricultural University and National Dairy Development Board extensively propagate the ethno-veterinary concept by providing field training to veterinarian and motivating farmers involved in animal husbandry.Ethno-Veterinary practices concern to animal healthcare is as old as the domestication of various livestock species. The extract of various parts of plant has shown to exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal and antioxidant activity.

In allopath, the treatment of mastitis requires higher dosage of advanced antibiotics with at least 5-7 days leads to various side effects such as antibiotic residues and toxic metabolites in milk, meat and animal byproducts. Hence, the traditional herbal, homeopathic and ayurvedic medicines are used by the local people for treating the mastitis. WHO has also emphasized on the use of medicinal plant as an alternative to antibiotic therapy. Several herbal extracts have shown in vitro antibacterial activity versus major mastitis pathogens. Some of these are Cedrus deodara, Curcuma longa and Eucalyptus globules which is having anti-inflammatory effect. Identifying the mastitis in early stage and keeping the animal udder in the outmost healthy condition is the only way to prevent the physical and economic losses due to mastitis.

• Application of paste of Turmeric powder and fresh leaves of Moringa oleifera mixed with common salt over the infected udder of cattle & buffalo thrice in a day is very effective.
• Mixture of Aloevera (200gm), turmeric powder (50gm) and lime (5gm) paste was found to be useful to treat all kind of mastitis without any adverse effects. The treated animal recovered within 5 days after therapy.
• Use of 50 gm turmeric powder, 20-25 gm limetone, 250 gm Aloe vera and lemon juice of two fresh lemons, mix it thoroughly to make a paste150-200 ml of water and apply externally over the affected part of udder. Repeat 10 times a day up to 5 days and is very effective.
• Feeding of 20-30 gm camphor in banana fruit twice in day up to three days is very effective in case of mastitisproducing milk with blood or abscess condition.
• Hot fomentation of udder by using neem leaves boiled in hot water with magsulf and boric acid and apply topically over the teat thrice in a day.
• In severe mastitis condition, crushed the 100 gram leaves of sponge guard in 250 ml of water and applies over the affected part of teat or udder and cover with cotton cloths.
• In mild teat infection, freshly plucked & clean leaf stalk of neem leaves and making the paste of turmeric powder with butter or ghee and apply this paste topically over affected teat.
• Use of palm oil, medium chain fatty acids for treatment of mastitis, having the antibacterial properties.
• The extract of, Garlic and Black Cuminis also used for treatment of mastitis.
• Antimicrobial activities of Ageratum conyzoides, Muntinga calabura, Piper betle, and Curcuma domestica have been proved and effective in treatment of mastitis.
• Massaging with mentha oil is also very useful for treating animals suffering with mastitis.
• The fine powder of white stone i.e. Benachu kallu mixed with desi butter. The whole blending process should be over Betel leaf (Piper betle). The mastitis infected udder should be cleaned with fresh warm water which contains turmeric powder and common salt mixture with equal amount. Thereafter the paste should apply over the mastitis affected udder of animal from top to bottom and left for drying about 20-30 minutes. Finally Sambrani smoke used to fumigate the mastitis affected udder for 5 – 10 minutes for better recovery from mastitis.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF MASTITIS

• Use of 5-10 drops of Phytolacca-1000 orally in morning hours up to 15 days can be cured from mastitis.
• When udder is hot, painful and edematous, the use of Belladonna 30 or 200 and Urticaria urens 30, is found to be useful.
• In case of fibrosis and nodules formation in secretary tissues we can use Homeopathic drugs Tetasule fibrokit gold, Tetasule Fibro, Fibro-K drops for such purposes.
• 2ml of Calcaria Flour-200C in 100 ml of Luke warm water is administered orally thrice a day is useful. Silicea -200C is also administered in same dose and route keeping a time gap of half an hour between two administrations. The treatment is carried out for at least 15-20 days.
• When udder is very hard with yellowish and cheesy milk, the use of Conium 200 is very useful.

All outbreaks of mastitis call for the employment of various remedies according to the different symptoms, and the animal’s reaction to the disease.

Common remedies frequently used are listed below:

Remedies	Indications	Dose
Belladonna 1m	Indicated in the acute form post-partum. The udder shows acute swelling and redness, and pain is obvious on palpation.	One every hour for four doses.
Aconite 6x	It should be used as a routine in all acute cases, especially those which develop suddenly, possibly after exposure to cold, dry winds.	One every half-hour for six doses.
Apis Mellifica 6c	This is a useful remedy for freshly calved heifers showing oedema of udder and surrounding tissues.	One every three hours for four doses
Bryonia Alba 30c	Indicated where the udder swelling is hard and indurated. In acute cases pain will be relieved by pressure on the udder and such cases are frequently presented with the animal lying down as this appears to give relief. Chronic forms showing fibrosis should benefit from this remedy	In the acute form, one dose four-hourly for four doses. In the chronic form, one dose twice weekly for one month.
Bellis Perennis 6c	Somewhat similar in its requirements to Arnica, but Bellis is probably better if the injuries are more deep than superficial, e.g. damage from teat cups which has gone on for a few days.	One three times daily for four days
Arnica Montana 30c	When mastitis has developed as a result of injury to the udder tissue. Blood may be present in the secretion.	One three times daily for three days.
Silicea 200c	Also useful in chronic cases of Corynebacterium pyogenes infection where purulent foci and sinuses have developed as a result of multiple abscesses.	One twice weekly for four weeks
Urtica Urens 6x	For acute forms showing oedema which may be in the form of plaques frequently extending to the perineal area.	One every hour for four doses.
Phytolacca 30c	A useful remedy both for acute and chronic cases. Acute forms may show curdled milk and clots, while in the latter, small clots may appear in mid-lactation. This is probably the most useful remedy for the average chronic case.	For acute cases one three times daily for three days, followed by one daily for four days. Mastitis which appears in the form of small clots in mid-lactation will probably yield to a dose every three hours for four doses
Hepar Sulphuris 6x	This low potency of Hepar will help promote suppuration and clearing of the udder contents in cases of C. Pyogenes or summer mastitis infection.	one every three hours for four doses. Once the udder has been cleared of purulent material, a dose or two of a higher potency should be given to complete the cure
Ipecac 30c	Useful remedy for controlling intra-mammary bleedingwhich results in ‘pink milk’, or even more frank bleeding.	one three times daily forthree days.
In acute cases	Remedies such as Belladonna, Bryonia and Urtica Urens may becombined as a polyvalent remedy. This will avoid the necessity for separatedosing with each remedy.

 

TREATMENT OF SUB CLINICAL MASTITIS: 

• When milk tested with a pH paper like bromothymol blue, in sub clinical mastitis, the paper turns to green and in clinical mastitis turns blue.
• Small quantity of milk is directly boiled in a glass and decanted. In sub clinical mastitis the sediments gets attached to the sides of glass. These two methods are 40% reliable.
• Use electronic device to calculate electrical conductivity which is reliable above 95%.

 

ACUTE MASTITIS

• Q 8drops and Apis Mel CM 6drops in one tea spoonful of water TID/QID. Sulphur30, Carboveg30, Silicia30, Phytolacca30 and Pulsatilla30 each 15 pills TID/ QID.
• Painful swollen udder: Belladonna hourly, Udder Hard but milk not spoiled. Bryonia 200 qid.
• Hard udder with pus in milk. Phosphorus 200.
• In udder oedema, Natrum Sulph 200 depending on the severity the drug/s may be used 5 to 6 times in a day.

TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC MASTITIS

• Use subcutaneously 1/2 ml of injectable Sulphur C 2ml of Calcaria Flour-200C in 100 ml of luke warm water is administered orally thrice a day is very effective. Silicea –                                    200C is also administered in same dose and route keeping a time gap of half an hour                                   between two administrations. The treatment is carried out for 20 days.

Treatment: The mode of treatment can be categorized into two groups – mastitis with anorexiaand mastitis without anorexia.

Mastitis with Anorexia

• Belladonna 30 or 200: When the udder is hot, painful and edematous.Dose: Belladonna 30: one dose every two hours 4 to 5 times till reliefBelladonna 200: B.I.D for 2 days.
• Bryonia 30 or 200: When udder is hard, painful and hot, Dose: One dose every 3 hrs till relief
• Urticaria urens 30: When the udder is hard, painful, edematous with allergicreactions and let down problems,Dose: One dose every 1 hour till relief
• Homeopathic Combination: Belladonna, Bryonia Urtica 30, Dose: 1 dose once in 2 hrs till temperature comes to normal.
• Phytolocca 200: When the udder is hot, with flakes and clots in milk andrefuse to allow the calf for suckling. Dose: 1 dose 2 hourly 4-5 doses for 2-3 days.
• Conium 200: When the udder is very hard, with yellowish and cheesy milkand painful udder.Dose: B.I.D. for 2 – 7 days
• Merc sol 200: When the udder is hard and when the milk is watery orserosanginous in appearance (Foot and Mouth affections)Dose: B.I.D. for 2 days
• Silicea 6x: Udder indurated, milk cheesy in consistence, with yellow clotsDose: T.I.D for 1 week to 10 days
• Biochemical Preparation 1: Kali mur 6x when clots in milk
• Calc Flur 6xDose: B.I.D. for 1 week to 10 days
• Homeopathic Combination 1: For intra mammary use.

Calundula Q, Belladonna 30, Dulcamara Q, Echinaea 30 aa 1 mlMade upto 20 ml with distilled water. Indications: Inflammation of the udder with loss of appetite, fever, congestion and trauma.Dose: 10 ml Morning and 10ml night, intra mammary injectionfor 2 to 3 days. Massage the udder to disperse the medicine uniformly

• Homeopathic Combination 2: For External use onlyPhytolocca decandra 30, Calendula officinalis Q, Apis mel 30, Belladonna 30 aa 1 mlMade up to 20 ml with glycerine.Dose : Apply on the affected teats and udder, B.I.D. for 2 – 4 days
• Homeopathic Combination 3: For internal use

Phytolocca 200, Calc. Fluor 200, Silicea 30, Belladonna 30, Arnica 30, Conium 30, Ipeca 30 aa 0.5 ml. Made up to 30 ml vimeral.

Indications: In acute, subacute and chronic mastitis.Dose: 2 –5 ml, B.I.D. orally for One week.

Mastitis without Anoexia

• Kali Mur 30: Hardness and White or gray or cream colour clots.Dose : 4 time a day for 2 to 5 days
• Ferrum Phos 6x: Blood in milk with or without bad smell. Dose : Q.I.D for 2 to 5 days
• . Silicea 1M + Calc. Sulph 200: When udder is hard and with clotsDose: Q.I.D for 2 –7 days.

Oxytocin treatment:

Effective treatment of mastitic cattle depends on complete removal of milk from the teat cisterns. It can be achieved by increasing the intervals of milking. Bacteria thrive in milk because it gets nourishment from the milk andwhen the teat canal is emptied, the bacteria do not find nourishment and the antibacterial drugs will be more effective. The cows can be injected with oxytocin to increase milk let down so that complete milking can be achieved easily.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT OF MASTITIS

As per the texts of Ayurveda, mastitis is known as Sthanavidhradi, a disease of pitta origin, the drugs used in this formulation (Aloe vera, Curcuma longa and Calcium hydroxide) means three ingredients viz. Gheekumari (Aloe vera) 2 or 3 petal, Haldi (Turmeric) powder (50gm) and Chunna (Lime stone)- 10 gm  is potent pitta shamaka. This formulation possesses Krimighna (antimicrobial), Vranashodaka (wound cleanser), Vranaropaka (wound healing), Shothahara (anti-inflammatory) and Srotoshodaka (channel cleanser) properties. Hence, mastitis can be efficiently managed with this formulation by application of such paste at least for 7-10 days. The antimicrobial activity of Aloe vera is attributed to the anthraquinones (aloin and emodin), flavonoids, tannins, saponins, p-coumaric acid, ascorbic acid, pyrocatechol and cinnamic acid. Alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, terpenoids, phytosterols, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, fatty acids such as palmitoleic acid and α-turmerone in fixed oils of Curcuma longa also possess antimicrobial activity against wide range of bacteria. The anti-inflammatory activity of Aloe vera is reported to be due to its Brady kinase which decreases vascular permeability, neutrophil migration, and leukocyte adhesion and lowers edema formation. It is also found to reduce the production of TNFα, inhibit PGF2α and TB4. Calcium hydroxide is known to possess anti-inflammatory action and lowers edema formation. Thus all the three ingredients in the formulation act at various steps in the inflammatory pathway and synergistically develop anti-inflammatory effect. Curcumin possesses immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity while polysaccharides present in Aloe vera are rich source of mannose and act as biological response modifier by targeting antigen presenting cell. The ingredients are as follows.

1. Gheekumari (Aloe vera) – 2 or 3 petals
2. Haldi (Turmeric) powder – 50 gm
3. Chunna (Lime stone) – 10 gm

All the above ingredients are ground well and made a paste, apply over the udder thrice a day for 3-7 days depending upon the disease incidence. Before applying, the udder and teats should be washed with boiled water for 2- 3 times for 5 days. Administration of orally 50 gm of sodium bicarbonate in the juice of lemon dissolved in 200 ml of water is also effective.

 

PREVENTION:

1. Hygiene 

Since the milking equipment can serve as a inanimate object which can transfer infection. Hence proper hygiene is essential to control mastitis.

2. Disinfection and dry cow therapy

The use of post-milking disinfectant teat dip and antibiotic dry cow therapy help to decrease the prevalence of mastitis. Environmental pathogens are less likely to be spread during milking. Usage of pre-milking teat dip prior to milking can further lower this risk.

3. Management

Various management practices have helped with prevention of the bovine mastitis caused by contagious pathogens. Well organized herds have been successful in limiting contagious mastitis. Control of contagious mastitis is possible and repeatable across herds when implementing these above practices.

• Dip the teats in a germicide after every milking to reduce incidences of the disease.
• Treat each quarter separately with suitable antibiotics to avoid disease prevalence.
• Milk infected cows at the last and use separate milk handling equipment for their products to avoid cross contamination.
• Use individual disposable towels for cleaning the udders. If you have to use a cloth towel, each cow should have a separate towel and clean the towel thoroughly with hot water after milking and air dry.
• The milkers should be clean and preferably wear latex gloves while milking.
• Give your heifers dry-cow antibiotic treatment if they have Staphyloccocus aureus Clip the udders to minimize dirt dangling around the teats.
• Pre-dip the teats in a germicide before milking and ensure you only milk clean dry teats.
• Keep the cows standing after milking to ensure that their teat canals close to avoid entry by bacteria and achieve this by giving the cow some feed.
• Use single-dose infusions to avoid cross contamination when performing udder cleaning and sterilization.
• Maintain high levels of hygiene by keeping the milking parlour neat and clean, using clean milking equipment, and using sterile teat dippers. Clean the pipes regularly to avoid bacterial growth.
• Cull chronically ill animals.

 

 

CONCLUSION

The excessive, exhaustive and indiscriminate use of higher antibiotics for treatment of mastitis with steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs leads various side effects along with their residual effect in the milk, meat and other animal products and byproduct as well as there may be development of antibiotic resistance. Health hazards issues will be developed by use of hard and prolong antibiotic treatments for mastitis. The infected milk from affected teat should be drained out thrice a day and safely disposed. A composition of 5% phenol can be usd to the infected milk to ensure hygienic disposal. Hence, for treating the animal diseases like mastitis, ethno-veterinary medicine, homeopathic and ayurvedic treatment is now safer and better alternatives for animal health concerned. There is a great need to start the awareness programme about the collection, dispersal of traditional knowledge and compilation of facts about the ethno-veterinary practices by the farmers. While milking the herd, strict attention must be given to first milking healthy, non-infected cows and subsequently infected cows. The infected and non-responsive quarter should be dried off permanently. Calves should be prevented from suckling on the infected teats. Government of India and state government should also taken necessary initiatives to appreciate the ethno-veterinary practices and starts a course curriculum by implementation of degree or diploma course to enhance the knowledge and conduction of research about the ethno-veterinary practices along with homeopathic and ayurvedic treatments for mastitis and other animal diseases.

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