Modern Therapeutic Approaches and Concepts for the Treatment of Trichophytosis in Calves
Vusala Sardarly1* , Ramil Mammadov2 , Konul Dunyamaliyeva3 ,
Sevinj Novruzova3 , Nargiz Huseynova3
Abstract. The aim of the present study was isolating and identifying the causative agents of ringworm in cattle and to comparatively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the LTF-201 “Arm” vaccine in the treatment of calf trichophytosis when used in combination with the immunomodulator Mixoferon and the topical etiotropic agent Akamiksan. The study was carried out at a private farm owned by Veli Kuliev, located in the Karaarkh settlement of the Samukh district, as well as at the regional veterinary diagnostic laboratory. During clinical examination of 150 calves, signs of dermatophytosis were detected in 30 animals (20%). To confirm the diagnosis, skin scrapings were collected from the border between affected and healthy skin areas of suspected animals. The samples were subjected to direct microscopic examination and inoculated onto mycobiotic culture media followed by incubation at 25 °C. Mycological examination resulted in the isolation and identification of fungi belonging to the genus Trichophyton from diseased calves. To assess treatment efficacy, 30 affected calves were divided into two groups of 15 animals each. Calves in the first group received the LTF-201 “Arm” vaccine intramuscularly at a dose of 2 mL, the immunomodulatory Mixoferon at a dose of 2000 IU/kg, and topical application of Akamiksan to the affected skin areas. Animals in the second group received the LTF-201 “Arm” vaccine at a dose of 2 mL and topical treatment with Akamiksan without administration of Mixoferon. It was established that calves affected by trichophytosis developed secondary immunodeficiency predominantly involving the humoral component of the immune system. During the active stage of the disease, interferon levels decreased by more than 2.5-fold, accompanied by a reduction in the bactericidal and lysozyme activity of blood serum compared with clinically healthy animals. The use of the LTF-201 “Arm” vaccine in combination with Mixoferon provided more rapid restoration of nonspecific resistance parameters, accelerated reparative processes in the skin and regrowth of hair, and significantly reduced the time to clinical recovery compared with the treatment regimen without immunomodulatory support.
Keywords: dermatophytosis, LTF-201 “Arm” vaccine, Mixoferon, Akamiksan, blood sampling, bactericidal and lysozyme activity of serum, immunomodulator