COW POX

Cow pox is a contagious eruptive skin disease of cattle.

It is mostly confined to udder and teat. It can spread to human beings.

ETIOLOGY:

Cow pox is caused by a large virus of vaccine subgroup.

SUSCEPTIBLE HOSTS:

Cow pox is seen in cattle, monkey, rabbit, guinea pig, mice and man.

Incidence is more common in cow due to contact milker’s hand while milking.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION:

– Direct contact with affected cows.

– Transmitted via hands of the milkers.

– Insect can also act as an agent.

– Milking machine can also act as a agent.

– Virus can enter through the small abrasions of udder or teat.

– Disease is more prevalent in winter rather than summer, because virus gets inactivated in hot.

PATHOGENESIS:

Incubation period: 3-7 days

Lesions appear on teat and udder. It comprise of erythema, followed by papules, vesicles, blister and pustules. Pustules finally become a scab. The scab detach during milking and ulcerative areas develop. Scendory bacterial infection or trauma can aggravate the lesion and can end up in mastitis.

SYMPTOMS:

– Temperature is low.

– Anorexia, suspended rumination and depression.

– Udder swollen, hot and sensitive.

– Typical pock lesions on teat and udder.

– Lesions can be seen in face of the calf, as they gets the infection while suck the infected mother.

– In bulls, it can be seen on scrotum and inside thighs.

– Due to recurrent attack secondary mastitis can set in.

CONTROL:

– Hygienic should be maintained.

– Isolation of affected cattle from the healthy ones.

– Disinfection of milking machine.

– Hands of milker should be properly washed.

– First milk the non infected ones and then the infected ones.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT:

Belladonna: when eruptions are red during stage of inflammation. Throbbing pain without pus formation.

Calcarea carb: when eruptions are not red but pale and painful.

Arsenicum album: burning pain as if coals of fire were put on affected parts. Cutting and burning pain which gets aggravated after midnight.

Hepar sulph: excessive sensitiveness of affected part, sharp sticking pain. When pus comes out it will be thick, yellow and sensitive to touch.

Silicea: when there is low healing. Pus is thin and watery.

Anthraxinum: it is an excellent remedy. It has burning and high fever.

Dr. Keerthi MS
BHMS Consultant

Curewell Homoeo Pharmacy Pvt Ltd.
Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.