CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF A LUMPY SKIN DISEASE IN A BUNAJI BULL IN TOHU VILLAGE OF ZARIA LGA, KADUNA STATE

Résumé

A case of lumpy skin disease in a 7-year old Bunaji bull was presented to the Postgraduate students of the College of Veterinary Surgeon of Nigeria (CVSN), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who were on an Ambulatory visit to some sedentary cattle herds in Tohu village in Zaria LGA. The chief complaints were swellings on different parts of the skin and reduced feed intake. Physical examination revealed pyrexia with rectal temperature of 39.9⸰C, rapid respiratory rate and pulsation of 36 cycles per minute and 90 beats per minute. Other signs included generalized circumscribed firm nodules on the skin especially the neck region, oedema of the limbs, reluctant to move, pale ocular membrane, mucopurulent nasal discharges, and superficial lymphadenopathy. Lumpy skin disease (LSD) was tentatively diagnosed based on the history and clinical signs observed. A non-specific treatment management protocol targeted at preventing secondary bacterial complications using a combination therapy of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agent was carried out. Incidentally, the bull apparently recovered and was sold for slaughter. Therefore, a combination therapy as a management protocol aimed at preventing LSD complications and saving the life of the affected bull has been relatively successful using antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agent.