Cattle psoroptosis: causes and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, prevention

Dermatological diseases often cause a decrease in the productivity of cows and the development of severe systemic pathologies. Psoroptosis is manifested in cattle with local skin symptoms at the initial stage, but progresses rapidly, exhausting the cattle. An infectious disease is easily transmitted to other animals, so you need to respond to signs of invasion in a timely manner, take therapeutic and preventive measures.

Reasons for appearance

The causative agent of the disease is an acarimorph mite of the genus Psoroptes bovis, parasitizing on the surface of the skin of cattle. The source of infection in most cases is a sick animal, and the cause is direct contact and shared items (drinkers, feeders, brushes).A person who has been in contact with a sick individual can also bring a tick to a cow.

Favorable conditions for the reproduction of the parasite are high humidity, thick hair and weak immunity of the carrier.

The following factors contribute to the development of psoroptosis in cattle:

• unfavorable conditions for animals (crowding, untimely change of litter, processing of feeders and drinkers);
• improper care;
• unbalanced diet;
• the presence of chronic diseases in the animal;
• hypovitaminosis.

Ticks mainly infect weakened cows and weak calves. Often the reason for the spread of invasion is the joint walking of the herd with animals from dysfunctional farms, violation of the requirements for the mandatory isolation of infected cattle.

Cows are vulnerable and prone to illness during the cold season. The peak incidence occurs in late autumn and early spring. In the summer, when the herd spends most of its time outdoors, eating fresh grass, psoroptosis usually proceeds invisibly.

To avoid the spread of the disease, it is necessary to regularly inspect animals and take action at the first sign of infestation.

Signs of psoroptosis in cattle

Symptoms of psoroptosis are noted in cattle at the end of the incubation period, during which the tick breeds. From the moment of infection to the manifestation of the first signs of the disease, it takes from 1 to 6 weeks, which depends on the level of local and general immunity of the carrier. Psoroptosis in cows is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• skin itching;
• formation of bald patches in the primary foci of parasite localization (the area of the base of the horns, the base of the tail, the area of the sacrum);
• dryness, coarsening of the skin;
• formation of keratinized folds on the skin;
• agglomeration of lesions.

The acute onset of psoroptosis is accompanied by severe itching until the end of the incubation period. In a subacute course, itching may be absent. The tick, sticking to the epidermis with its proboscis, releases the toxin and starts the inflammatory process. The formed papules burst. Dried exudate in the form of pale yellow crusts becomes noticeable on the animal's coat.

The cow tries to alleviate the condition by combing itchy areas on nearby objects and licking the foci. Saliva creates a favorable environment for parasites.

With the progression of the disease, rough skin folds are formed (mainly in the neck area), there are more foci, they merge.The lower parts of the limbs, the area of the groin and scrotum, the lower part of the peritoneum, the front side of the head remain intact. If left untreated, the cow becomes weak, vulnerable to other infections, which can lead to the death of the animal. It is important to diagnose the disease in time and start treatment.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis includes a visual examination of the animal and laboratory tests. It is necessary to exclude psoroptosis with similar manifestations of skin inflammation of a different nature (dermatitis, eczema, lichen, sarcoptic mange, trichodectosis).

To confirm the diagnosis, a skin scraping is taken and transferred to the laboratory for acarological research.

Cure disease

The sick cow is isolated and treated with topical antiparasitics. The keratinized layers of the skin and crust 3 days before the treatment of the animal must be softened with oil, fish oil or soapy water, and then carefully removed.

For local treatment of psoroptosis in cattle use:

• dust (300 grams per 1 animal);
• 2% oil solution of colloidal sulfur (irrigate the surface of the skin at the rate of 2 liters per 1 animal);
• "Thiovit" (finished preparation of colloidal sulfur);
• "Isofen";
• Bytikol;
• "Psoroptol";
• Acrodex;
• "Dermatosol".

For cattle, bathing preparations are also used: Tactics, Bipin, Kenaz. Severe inflammation, the addition of a microbial infection requires the introduction of antibiotics.

Prevention

In order to prevent infection of cattle with psoroptosis and stop the spread of the disease, it is necessary to provide animals with comfortable conditions, proper care and regular veterinary control.

The set of preventive measures includes:

• compliance with sanitary rules for livestock;
• Providing proper care;
• regular and balanced meals;
• timely treatment of diseases;
• exclusion of herd contact with sick and disadvantaged animals;
• isolation of cows with signs of illness.

When cattle with symptoms of psoroptosis are found in the herd, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatment of the entire livestock.

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