Thelitis Article Swipe

Thelitis is an acute inflammation of one or more teats that leads to ulceration, necrosis, obstruction, and sloughing of the affected teats. Pure exotic breeds are highly susceptible, followed by crossbred animals and buffaloes. Photosensitive thelitis is a local manifestation of generalized photosensitization. It is characterized by erythema and hardness of the unpigmented or white parts of the lateral aspects of each teat. Ulcerative thelitis is an obstacle to the milk-producing capacity of cattle and buffaloes. This condition is characterized by the acute inflammation of one or more teats, ulceration, necrosis, and sloughing of the affected teat with subsequent thickening, narrowing, or closure of the teat canal that leads to the incomplete drainage of milk. The quality of milk appears to be normal, unlike in clinical mastitis. Bovine nodular thelitis in dairy cows is a chronic and enzootic infection. The disease causes economic losses due to mastitis complications and nonspecific reactions to the intradermal tuberculin test during tuberculosis prevention. Inflammation of the wall of the teat (thelitis) is a nonspecific lesion that is usually associated with traumatic injury to the lining of the teat cistern. Photosensitive thelitis occurs due to the photosensitization of the teats. Ulcerative thelitis is caused by a viral agent similar to bovine herpes virus-2, however, bovine nodular thelitis is primarily caused by Mycobacterium leprae and M. lepromatosis . Thelitis is observed more often in primiparous animals than pluriparous animals. Its incidence is in the first lactation period of the animals, within 1 week followed by 10–15 days. In the buffalo, incidence of thelitis is mainly observed in graded Murrah buffaloes rather than in nondescript buffaloes. Bovine nodular thelitis is a chronic and enzootic cutaneous disease. Diagnosis of thelitis is based on the composite of clinical signs, epidemiologic features, electron microscopy, milk samples, culture examinations, and intradermal whey testing in rabbits. The management of thelitis includes a combination of different drug types like antibiotics, antihistamines, and anti-inflammatories along with antivirals. These protocols hasten the recovery and prevent secondary bacterial complications like mastitis. Antibiotic therapy along with oral and topical acyclovir enhances the cure rate. Lysine may be used as a topical paste on the affected teat since lysine reduces the severity of herpes simplex virus infections in humans. M. uberis is responsible for nodular thelitis and is susceptible to the antileprosy drugs rifampin, dapsone, and ofloxacin. It is also susceptible to the drugs clofazimine and clarithromycin. Alternative treatment includes homeopathic medicine like Arnica and Bryonia , which are also found to be effective in the management of different types of thelitis.