How To Avoid Ringworm Spread Between Animals

Cattle Diseases

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Ringworm in Cattle

Also known as: Dermatophytosis

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the keratin in the skin and hair. Cattle and sheep are commonly affected, but other species, including man and equus caballus, tin can be infected. Thus, ringworm is a potential zoonotic disease. Clinical signs are often seen in the winter during the housed period. Circular lesions are characteristically grey-white, with a powdery surface and scant hairs. Lesions can be slightly raised and swollen, particularly around the edges. Severe lesions tin can become thickened with scales and leave raw, haemorrhage surface when the scaly lesion is removed. The lesions exercise not normally cause irritation or generalised symptoms in affected animals. In cattle, the infection is most commonly seen in calves and immature stock, where the lesions are mainly seen effectually the eyes, on the ears and on the back. The lesions are less rare in adult cattle and are seen when infection is introduced into a naïve herd, for instance by buy of new stock. Additionally, considering immunity is not long-lived, adults can develop clinical signs if exposed to a heavy challenge from youngstock.

At that place is very little data on immunity to ringworm infection, but re-infection later natural infection appears to exist rare. The spores of ringworm fungi can remain infectious in the farm environment for months, if not years. New infections can exist brought in past wild animals, bought-in stock which are incubating the affliction or animals returning from livestock shows. The incubation flow is between one and four weeks.

Command and Prevention of Ringworm

Ringworm is common throughout the globe. Some European countries take statutory or voluntary control policies for the disease (Forshell and Gyllensvan, 1991; Gudding et al., 1991). In spite of its zoonotic nature, the illness is not notifiable in the UK.

Organic beefiness farmers have indicated that ringworm is one of the main health problems in young stock (Roderick and Hovi, 1999).

Equally the affliction is particularly common in immature stock during the housing menses and in crowded conditions, control should focus on providing good housing conditions, disinfection and cleaning of the premises during the grazing season and firsthand isolation and treatment of affected animals. Phenolic disinfectants or sodium hypochlorite are recommended for disinfection of buildings and grooming and feeding utensils. Buildings can also exist sprayed with caustic soda (ane% solution). Formaldehyde is not recommended on pasture based farming systems.

Where there is a serious herd problem or eradication of ringworm from a herd is attempted, vaccination tin can be used as function of a herd health plan. Vaccines are considered effective and cost-beneficial, and provide protection for up to 1 yr (Gudding et al., 1991; Rybnikar et al., 1991). Disinfection of premises is particularly recommended to improve the effectiveness of a vaccine-based command programme (Gordon and Bond, 1996).

A vaccine is available against ringworm. A list of medicines available in the UK can be establish on the National Role of Animal Health (NOAH) website.

Handling of Ringworm

Ringworm in calves often clears up when they are turned out in bound partly due to improved diet.

Animals ofttimes cocky-cure post-obit turn-out in the jump, with many cases not requiring specific treatment. Handling of ringworm with topical anti-fungal preparations has been used widely and provides reasonable cure rates (Rhaymah, 1999; Andrews and Edwardson, 1986).

Thiabendazole has been indicated to have efficacy in ringworm treatment and may exist considered (Guth, 1988), nonetheless, information technology is important to remember that this is primarily an anthelmintic drug and additional use should exist limited in order to preclude anthelmintic resistance. Topical, herbal remedies accept been shown to be equally efficacious as anti-fungal agents (Sharma and Dwivedi, 1990; Sharma et al., 1993; Bosoglu et al., 1998, Clark et al., 1990, Cam et al., 2009). Vaccination equally therapy has also been shown to raise cure in affected animals (Bredahl and Andersen, 1998). Thomsen and Fougt (1984) study the efficacy of selenium and vitamin E injections in curing ringworm infections in cattle. Similarly, vitamin A is recommended as a support therapy to assistance recovery.

Ringworm is a fungus that is killed by ultra-violet light and many cases resolve spontaneously when calves are turned out in the bound. This is about likely due to a combination of improved nutrition and the effects of the sunday.

The handling of ringworm should exist combined with disinfection of buildings (meet Prevention and Command).

Ringworm and Welfare

Ringworm is non unremarkably considered a welfare problem equally the lesions do not crusade serious irritation. Information technology is, nonetheless, recommended that owned ringworm infections are treated and control measures are implemented to preclude serious lesions from developing.

The main loss associated with ringworm is due to the reduced value of the hide and the delay in sending cattle with active lesions to market place

Good Practice Based on Current Knowledge

If ringworm is a continuous problem on the farm:

Implement a closed herd policy
Include a ringworm reduction plan in the animal wellness plan
Consider vaccinating all young stock and treating all affected animals at turnout (plan phasing out of vaccination once clinical incidence disappears)
Disinfect all buildings and utensils (see Prevention and Control), and burn or thoroughly compost all bedding
During the post-obit housing period, isolate and treat all affected animals immediately at diagnosis
Repeat vaccination and disinfection at side by side turnout

If ringworm is not a problem on the farm:

Implement a closed herd policy.
Check the health condition of herd of origin regarding ringworm if you consider buying animals
Quarantine all bought-in animals for a minimum of two weeks

Ringworm References

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