Abstract
Stephanofilariasis or humpsore is a chronic parasitic dermatitis of cattle. Various treatment regimens were attempted in the past but were found to be partially effective. Here, we claim a successful treatment regime using an FDA-approved macrocyclic lactone, a piperazine derivative, and an herbal preparation. Twenty-four cattle (18 affected and 6 unaffected) were selected and divided into Gr 1: positive control (infected without treatment; n = 6), Gr 2: treatment group (infected with treatment with ivermectin; n = 6), Gr 3: treatment group (infected with treatment with tri-model therapy including ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate, and an herbal ointment, n = 6), and Gr 4: negative control (non-infected animals; n = 6). In Gr 2 and Gr 3, treatment to the ailing animals were given for 30 days. Lesion was significantly reduced in day 15 of post-treatment and completely healed on day 30 of post-treatment in Gr 3. Tri-model therapy recorded significant improvement in the surface area of the sore as compared to ivermectin administration alone. Antioxidants were increased and malondialdehyde (MDA) and cortisol concentrations were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in Gr 3 than in untreated control group at day 14, 21 and 28. Histopathological changes in infected animals were characterized by parakeratotic hyperkeratosis along with presence of nucleated keratinocytes. There were infiltrations of polymorphonuclear cells specially eosinophils along with a few monomorphonuclear cells. Microfilarial organism was observed beneath the epidermis, which was surrounded by fibrocytes and infiltrated cells. In the tri-model-treated animal after recovery, the skin revived a normal architecture. Therefore, tri-model therapy has the potential to cure humpsore.
Highlights
Stephanofilariasis popularly known as humpsore, caused by the filarial worm Stephanofilaria assamensis and transmitted by Haematobia irritans, Musca conducens, Musca planiceps, and Musca autumnalis, is a common chronic skin disorder of cattle endemic to hot humid climate of Indian subcontinent [1,2,3,4]
Institute Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI), Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, approved the study and all the methods were performed in accordance with the relevant national guidelines and regulations
3, the average surface area of the sore reduced from 174.94 ± 1 reduced from 171.83 ± 11.68 to 100.04 ± 7.31 on day 15 and to 50.86 ± 3.17 on day 30
Summary
Stephanofilariasis popularly known as humpsore, caused by the filarial worm Stephanofilaria assamensis and transmitted by Haematobia irritans, Musca conducens, Musca planiceps, and Musca autumnalis, is a common chronic skin disorder of cattle endemic to hot humid climate of Indian subcontinent [1,2,3,4]. Stephanofilariasis is responsible for damage of hair follicles and causes chronic dermatitis in cattle. Humpsore causes significant economic losses to the dairy farmers as the market value of the animals reduces due to damaged skin [5]. The typical lesions occur mostly in and around hump (92.60%) and rarely in udder, sternal area, and other parts of the body [6]. The size of sore varies from a few cm to more than 30 cm [6]. Stephanofilariasis shows higher prevalence rate in exotic and its crossbred (20.17%) as compared to zebu cattle (16.14%) [7], mostly prevalent in dark-colored cattle [8]
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