Successful clinical management of contagious ecthyma in Kanni goats of Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

An outbreak of contagious ecthyma was noticed at organised Kanni breeding goat farm, Virudhunagar District during September 2024. The morbidity was 68% but there was no mortality. Both sex of goats and kids were affected. The goats developed pyrexia with restricted feed intake, appeared dull, depressed with lesions on muzzle, nostrils and lips. The Characteristic lesions and physical examination findings strongly suggested contagious ecthyma and further confirmed by PCR assay. The affected goats were segregated from browsing and provided with stall feeding. They were treated with Ceftriaxone (15mg/kg, IM, BID) for five days, Meloxicam (0.5mg/kg IM) for 3 days and Viro care 10mL/day for five days. The lesions were washed with potassium permanganate solution and an ethno veterinary medicine paste of tender neem leaves and turmeric was applied over the lesions thrice daily. There was complete recovery within 3-4 weeks.