Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Internal Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey
2
Department of Internal Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, TURKEY
3
Department of Microbiology, Veterinary Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, TURKEY
Abstract
Dermatophilus congolensis infection in sheep is manifested as matted tufting, entanglement, hardening and loss of wool, and thickening and itching of the skin, altogether which eventually results in economic losses. We investigated the clinical, hematological and biochemical findings in sheep naturally infected with Dermatophilus congolensis. For this purpose, 35 infected Akkaraman sheep (aged: 3-4 years, belonging to a flock of 200 animals) were referred to Prof. Dr. Servet SEKIN Polyclinic of the Dicle University, Veterinary Faculty with various skin problems were included. The infected sheep presented with crusted skin lesions, matted wool tufts, alopecia, and pruritus. Their biochemical serum analyses revealed increased serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, total protein, albumin and calcium levels, and decreased creatinine, sodium and potassium levels in comparison with the control animals. The infected animals were treated with parenteral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (Synulox®-Zoetis; 8.75 mg/kg body weight, i.m., once daily for 5 days) and local povidone-iodine (Batimer®-Esmira) administration, and observed for response to the treatment regimen. We found that Dermatophilus congolensis infection causes skin and wool damage in sheep, along with alteration in the serum biochemical parameters.
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