Clinical and Animal Welfare Insights from a Cowpox Outbreak in Sahiwal Cattle and Human Handlers in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Cowpox virus is considered to be a re-emerging zoonotic pathogen and a public health threat due to increasing numbers of cases in humans and animals . The Sahiwal cow breed is considered a hardy breed with superior tolerance to summer stress and better disease resistance. The present study reports an outbreak of cow pox at Narsingh Gaushala in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir (UT). In a group of 17 Sahiwal cattle, 7 lactating Sahiwal cattle and 3 calves were affected with cowpox. It was also observed that the morbidity was as high as 70% in lactating cattle, followed by suckling calves at 42.85%. No mortality was observed in the farm. Suckling calves showed lesions after 9 days of outbreak in a lactating cow. Cowpox lesions were prominent and clearly visible on the teats and udder of lactating animals, whereas lesions on the face and muzzle were seen in suckling calves. Various stages of pox lesions, like papules, pustules, erythema, vesicles and scabs were observed in animals. Affected animals showed elevated temperature and heart rate. Handlers and milkers in the farm mainly showed lesions on their hands in the form of papules and pustules. All affected Sahiwal cattle and calves were treated with Inj. Enrofloxacin @ 5mg/kg O.D. for 5 days followed by Inj. Meloxicam @ 0.5mg/kg B.I.D. for 2 days as supportive therapy. Teat dipping with betadine-glycerin two times a day was also done. All affected animals recovered within 12-14 days of treatment.