COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF TOBACCO LEAVES OINTMENT AND NEEM LEAVES EXTRACT AGAINST STEPHANOFILARIASIS IN CATTLE

Abstract

Stephanofilariasis one of the most harmful parasitic diseases caused by Stephanofilaria assamensis is endemic to Bangladesh. The disease could neither be fully controlled nor eradicated from these regions in spite of various attempts. The present study was conducted to find out the prevalence of the disease in the endemic areas, its economic impact and suitable measures for its eradication. The incidence rate was more in older animals. The direct and indirect economic losses to farmers by way of loss of draught days, delayed puberty, lower lactation yields and prolonged inter-calving period were enormous. The control and eradication of Stephanofilariasis in bovines could be successfully achieved especially by targeting the life cycle of the biological vector (Musca conducens), the intermediate host. Improvement in general cleanliness and hygiene to reduce the fly population. An experiment was carried out in nearby Villages and also in the Laboratory in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during the period from June-November/ 2013. The tobacco powder and the extract of neem leaves were screened for assessment their comparative efficacy against humpsore in cattle. Among these, neem leaves extract were used topically to cover the affected area and tobacco powder was applied topically twice daily to the cattle. 15gm tobacco powder was mixed with 85gm Vaseline for 28 days. Efficacy was recorded as compared to control. Extract of neem leaves showed gradual increase of efficacy up to day 30th of treatment. Among two drugs tobacco show better performance than neem leaves extract.