author(s)
M Avanth Reddy, G Ambica and G Abhinav Kumar Reddy

abstract
Dermatophilus congolensis is a bacterium that causes exudative dermatitis with scab formation in bovines and is characterized by typical focal (or) localized lesions with “paintbrush” aspect and occasionally as disseminated cutaneous disease. Humidity and ticks like Amblyomma variegatum are the predisposing factors. As this organism also affects human beings, Dermatophilosis is considered as zoonotic disease with public health importance. This study describes skin lesions in 30 bovines from a herd of grazing livestock in Pagadapally village, Jagtial district, Telangana state, India. Lesions were noticed all over the body especially at the dorsum, neck and shoulders consisting thick grayish to dark brown scabs with exudates and blood. Blood samples were collected from all affected animals. Impression smears were prepared from 10 animals with typical lesions taken from the base of the freshly removed scabs along with the collection of crusts, exudates and pustules under proper aseptic precaution. The smears were stained with Giemsa stain and samples were processed for isolation and its colonial morphology and growth characteristics were examined on blood agar. The microbiological diagnosis enabled the identification of Dermatophilus congolensis. Among affected 30 animals were considered for the study and randomly divided into three different groups as group 1, 2 and 3 and three different antibiotic therapeutic regimens were given. In terms of recovery rate and preventing death, Gentamicin was found to be the most effective antibiotic, followed by Amoxirum forte and finally Enrofloxacin. However, all group animals were treated with Meloxicam injection and topical scrubbing of the lesions with equal mixture of sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride and topical spray of Povidone iodine solution. Treatment was not only effective in early, mild cases but also useful among moderately and heavily affected cattle.