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Trichophytosis in cattle is a fairly common fungal disease that affects the skin of an animal. Trichophytosis of cattle, or ringworm, is registered in more than 100 countries of the world and causes great damage to livestock. In order to recognize this disease in time, each owner of cattle should familiarize himself with the causes, symptoms and methods of treating trichophytosis.
What is trichophytosis
Trichophytosis (trichophytosis) is a contagious fungal disease of animals and humans caused by pathogenic microscopic fungi of the genus Trichophyton. The causative agent of trichophytosis in cattle is the pathogenic fungus Trichophyton verrucosum (faviforme).
Trichophytosis, or ringworm, is characterized by the appearance on the skin of outlined, scaly areas with hairs broken off at the base. Some forms of the disease are characterized by the development of severe inflammation of the skin and follicles with the formation of exudate and a dense crust.
The source of this disease are infected and already ill animals. In the spread of trichophytosis, an important role is played by rodents, which are carriers of this disease in the external environment. A healthy animal can become infected with trichophytosis through feeders, drinkers, care items infected with fungal spores.
The occurrence of trichophytosis in cattle in a certain way is affected by unsanitary conditions of detention and inadequate feeding (deficiency of vitamins, micro- and macroelements). Cows kept in warm, damp and unventilated areas are more likely to suffer from infectious and non-contagious skin diseases. Trichophytosis in cattle is mainly recorded in the autumn and winter, especially when animals are crowded.
In the affected coat, the causative agent of trichophytosis remains viable for up to 6-7 years, and in pathogenic material – up to 1,5 years.
Forms of the disease
Depending on the severity and course of the pathological process, there are several forms of trichophytosis in cattle:
- superficial;
- erased (atypical);
- follicular (deep).
The follicular form of ringworm is more common in calves, especially during the stall period. The number of foci of inflammation can be different, the diameter of the lesions is up to 20 cm. This form of trichophytosis is characterized by the presence of several zones of skin lesions. The inflamed areas of the epidermis are covered with dense serous-purulent crusts, resembling dry dough. When pressed, purulent exudate is released from under the scabs, and when the crust is separated, erosive and ulcerative skin lesions can be seen. The hair on the inflamed areas of the epithelium easily falls off, many follicular pustules can be seen on the surface of the skin. In sick calves with this form of the disease, there is a deterioration in appetite and, as a result, the absence of weight gain, growth retardation.
In adult cattle, the superficial form of trichophytosis is more common. First, small protruding oval-shaped spots with a diameter of 1-5 cm appear on the skin.
The coat in this area becomes dull, its structure changes, and the hairs easily break off at the base. Over time, the spots increase in size, sometimes merge and turn into single extensive lesions with a flaky surface. The epithelium is covered with a light crust, which disappears after 4-8 weeks. In the initial and final stages of the disease in animals with trichophytosis, itching, soreness of inflamed skin areas is noted.
Atypical, or erased trichophytosis, as well as the superficial form, is more common in adult cattle in the summer. Infected animals develop small, rounded patches of alopecia with scaly skin on their heads. Usually, after some time, hair growth in the area resumes, the coat is restored.
Symptoms of lichen in cattle
Spores of a pathogenic fungus enter the environment with peeling crusts, skin flakes and hair. The incubation period lasts from 5 days to a month or more. After penetration into the skin of the animal, the spores of the fungus germinate. The causative agent of the disease multiplies in the stratum corneum of the epidermis and hair follicles. The waste products of microorganisms cause irritation of the cells of the epidermis, the accumulation of infiltrate and pus.
In the event that fungi enter the thickness of the epidermis and destroy the hair follicle, hairs fall off on the affected areas of the skin, and alopecia are formed. The inflammatory process is accompanied by the release of exudate and the formation of scabs that adhere tightly to the epidermis. With superficial and worn trichophytosis, the affected areas of the skin are covered with asbestos-like or gray-white crusts.
With trichophytosis in cattle, the skin of the head, neck, less often the back, limbs, abdomen, thighs and lateral surfaces are usually affected. In calves, this disease manifests itself in the form of small inflammations in the frontal part, around the eye sockets, mouth and ears.
Trichophytosis is accompanied by severe itching and restlessness of the animal. Adults lose their appetite, young cattle lag behind in growth and development. In advanced cases and in severe forms, trichophytosis can be fatal.
Diagnosis of the disease
The diagnosis of trichophytosis of cattle is made taking into account:
- clinical signs characteristic of this disease;
- results of microscopy of particles of the epidermis, hair and crusts;
- epidemiological data.
Also, for the diagnosis, a culture of the fungus is isolated on nutrient media. For laboratory studies, the pathological material of sick animals is selected – scraping of the affected areas of the epidermis and hair that has not been treated with therapeutic agents.
Trichophytosis of cattle must be differentiated from other diseases with similar symptoms:
- microsporia;
- favus (parsha);
- scabies;
- eczema.
The clinical signs of microsporia are somewhat similar to the symptoms of trichophytosis. However, with this disease, itching of the skin in the lesion is not observed. The spots have an irregular shape, the hairs do not break off at the base, but at some distance from the skin.
With scab, the affected hairs are arranged in bundles mixed with healthy ones. The hairs do not break off at the base, but fall out completely.
Scabies, as well as cattle trichophytosis, is accompanied by itching without specific localization, and mites are present in scrapings.
With eczema and other non-contagious dermatological diseases, there are no delineated lesions, the hair does not fall out and does not break off.
Treatment of ringworm in cattle
When identifying clinical signs of trichophytosis, it is first necessary to isolate the infected animal from healthy individuals. Treatment is prescribed based on the degree of damage and the course of the disease. There are several effective options for the treatment of trichophytosis in cattle.
Mild forms of cattle trichophytosis can be cured by treating the affected areas of the epidermis with antifungal drugs:
- ointment “Fungibak Yam” twice a day for 4-5 days;
- spray “Zoomikol” from the periphery to the center, capturing 1-2 cm of healthy skin for 3-5 days once, until the disappearance of clinical signs of the disease;
- emulsion for external use “Imaverol”, diluted with heated water in a ratio of 1:50 (four treatments with an interval of 3-4 days).
Lesions on the skin of a sick animal should be treated:
- 10% tincture of iodine;
- 10% solution of copper sulfate;
- a solution of salicylic acid or alcohol (10%);
- salicylic, sulfuric or tar ointment (20%).
It is advisable to use therapeutic ointments for single lesions.
Some owners, when treating lichen in cattle at home, treat skin areas with petroleum jelly, sunflower oil or fish oil. Available folk remedies contribute to the rapid rejection and softening of trichophytosis crusts.
The most effective and correct way to combat this disease is to vaccinate cattle. For prevention purposes, healthy animals, as well as sick cattle with various forms of the disease, are given the following live vaccines LTF-130. The prepared drug is used twice with an interval of 10-14 days, you need to prick in the same place. On the skin of the animal (in the area of vaccination), after a few days, small crusts form, which are rejected on their own within a month.
Injection of the LTF-130 vaccine into infected individuals in the incubation period can lead to the rapid onset of clinical signs of ringworm with the appearance of multiple trichophytosis foci of a superficial nature. Such animals are administered a single therapeutic dose of the drug.
In vaccinated calves, immunity to the disease is formed within a month after revaccination and persists for a long time.
Preventive measures
To prevent the disease at large livestock enterprises and personal subsidiary farms, it is necessary to carry out a set of preventive measures in a timely manner. Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat, because young animals of one month of age are subject to mandatory vaccination.
Newly arrived animals are determined for a thirty-day quarantine in separate rooms. Every 10 days, the animals should be examined by a veterinarian, and if trichophytosis is suspected, the necessary laboratory tests of the pathological material should be carried out.
A sick animal with a confirmed diagnosis is immediately transferred to an isolation room and immunized with therapeutic doses of an antifungal vaccine. Boxes, inventory, feeders and drinkers are subjected to mechanical processing and disinfection. The litter, the remnants of food are burned. Manure removed from the boxes where the sick animal was located is subjected to disinfection. In the future, treated manure can only be used as fertilizer.
Farms and large livestock enterprises should regularly carry out planned deratization and disinfection of premises.
Conclusion
Trichophytosis in cattle is found everywhere. This disease is especially dangerous for calves and animals with weakened immune systems. Timely vaccination and preventive measures will help prevent and protect the livestock of cattle from the unpleasant consequences of trichophytosis.
