AN INSIGHT INTO DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF DERMATOPHILOSIS IN WATER BUFFALO

Abstract

Dermatophilosis is prevalent in tropical countries and has higher incidence during high humidity and rainy season. In the present case report, a six years, non-pregnant buffalo was referred to University Clinic with the history of nodular skin lesions for one month on the entire body surface. The lesions observed on dorsum were mainly crusts and scabs and ulcers on foot. Tick infestation was also noticed. Based upon the history, clinical signs and appearance of lesions, the case was tentatively diagnosed as dermatophilosis or mite infestation or cutaneous form of theileriosis. Deep and superficial skin scrappings and blood smear examination was performed to confirm the disease. The skin scrappings under microscopy was found negative for mites. No haemoparasites were observed on examination of blood smear.  Skin scraps were kept in normal saline solution overnight followed by Giemsa staining and examination revealed typical railroad appearance structure of Dermatophilus congolense. On the basis of typical morphology of bacterium, the case was diagnosed to be of dermatophilosis. For the therapeutic management of Dermatophilosis inj.  oxytetracyline 10 mg/Kg intravenously for five days followed by lomg actiong oxytetracyclin for two weeks. Animal showed marked improvement after 14 days of therapy with complete clinical recovery after 20 days with the disappearance of scabs and crusts with no remission fo signs was observed for next 3 months.