Biomedical Letters

An Innovative Approach to Treat Brucellosis in Buffaloes

Haisem Ur Rasool 1, Muhammad Avais 1, Masood Rabbani 2, Rais Ahmed *2, Khushi Muhammad 2, Muhammad Asad Ali 2

1 Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-54000, Pakistan.

2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-54000, Pakistan.

Abstract

Brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes is caused by Brucella abortus and characterized by late term abortions, placentitis, retained placenta, stillbirth, orchitis, and infertility. The experimental study included healthy (A and B groups) and brucellosis positive (C and D groups) buffaloes. The animals in both the groups A and C were given 1) four injections of long acting oxytetracycline (20mg/kg body weight; BW) intramuscularly (IM) repeated after every 48 hours, 2) seven consecutive injections of streptomycin (13mg/kg BW IM), 3) three consecutive injections of flunixin meglumin (2mg/kg BW IM) for first three days of the treatment followed by three injections (IM) of Selevit for next 3 consecutive days and 4) combined vaccine on 10th day of the treatment. Each animal of group B and D served as negative and positive control, respectively. Each animal of the group C and D were positive while animals of the group A and B negative to ELISA on six months post-treatment and PCR on subsequent parturition. However, calves of group C, A and B were negative while calves of group D were positive to ELISA and PCR. In conclusion, chemo-immunotherapy is an effective way to treat Brucella infected buffaloes in local circumstances.