MANAGEMENT OF BOVINE DERMATOPHILOSIS IN INDIA
Dermatophilosis is a contagious zoonotic skin disease caused by gram positive bacterium (dermatophilus congolensis) members of aerobic actinomycete (Dalis et al., 2010). Dermatophilosis is also known with different names as ‘Streptothricosis’ in cattle, ‘Lumpy wool disease’ in Australian sheep, ‘Strawberry foot rot’ in Scottish sheep, ‘Mycotic dermatitis’ and ‘rain scald’. Dermatophilosis was first reported by Van Sacaghemin Belgian Congo in 1915 and later reported worldwide (Zaria, 1993.
It is being manifested by exudative, proliferative or hyperkeratotic dermatitis, associated by the production of crusts. (Yeruham et al., 2003). Dermatophilus congolensis is sensitive to pH and osmotic changes, and there is no direct evidence that it multiplies in the external environment or is able to survive for long periods on the ground. Transmission is by direct contact with infected animals or indirectly via contaminated objects or flies (Quinn et al., 2002). This disease has been reported by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) to be one of the four major bacterial diseases which affect cattle and other animals in the tropical and subtropical regions (Hashemi Tabar et al., 2004). Even though the disease is not fatal, it causes severe economic losses to cattle farmers through inferior quality of hide, reduced milk production, weight loss, cost of treatment and culling of severely affected animals. Transmission occurs directly by means of zoospores from the skin, contact between carrier (or) sick and susceptible animals. The host species could suffer seasonally from acute, sub-acute (or) chronic forms of the disease. High and long period rainfall and warm and humid temperatures will reduce the normal superficial protective factors of the skin and predispose animals to clinical condition (Ojong et al., 2016). In addition, contamination of puncture wounds and utensils; bites of the flies and tick and lesions over the face and limb caused due to pointed-tip pasture (Brachiaria sp.) may predispose animals to indirect infection. Microenvironmental conditions especially high temperature, with more humidity could activate the dormant skin zoospores leading to production of germ tubes containing active multi-flagellated zoospores that invade the epidermis. Cutaneous lesions are determined by a cyclical pattern of invasion, epidermis inflammation, serous exudation, and formation of micro abscesses, followed by regeneration resulting in the formation of scabs and crusts containing the pathogen (Nath et al., 2010) . Diagnosis is done based on clinical appearance of lesions and demonstrating the causative organism from lesions (Kahn, 2005)
The animal is generally treated with Oxytetracycline 10 mg/kg body weight I/V in normal saline along with Chlorpheniramine maleate 0.2 mg/kg I/M for about 5 days. Then it is continued with longacting Oxyteracycline 20 mg/kg I/M for another two weeks.
Gentamicin as a drug of choice for treating Dermatophilosis in bovines followed by Amoxirum forte, along with parenteral Meloxicam, scrubbing of the affected areas with equal mixture of sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride and topical spray of Povidone iodine solution 5% w/v (Povicidalb). Further, it is suggested that, cattle owners have to be cautious during rainy season especially with predisposing factor like prevailing high humid climate and ectoparasitic infestation by keeping animals and surrounding area dry and avoiding overcrowding. The best methods for control of Dermatophilosis are isolation of infected animals, culling of chronic cases and controlling external parasites. As Dermatophilosis is a zoonotic disease, every precaution should be taken while handling the affected animals.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
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