ascorbic-acid and benzyl-benzoate

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of commonly used acaricidal drugs in India and also to assess the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) as adjunct therapy in 72 growing sheep with sarcoptic mange, aged 5-6 months and weighing 20.4-31.7 kg. Eight replicates of nine animals were formed based on sex, and day 0 body weight. Another set of 12 healthy sheep (5-6 months old) constituted the healthy control group. Drugs were applied locally on the affected parts daily and recovery changes in skin lesions were observed at the time of every application. L-Ascorbic acid was administered intramuscularly. Skin scrapings were collected daily from each group and examined for the presence of mites. Blood samples from each group were collected and analysed for total erythrocytes, leucocytes, haematocrit, haemoglobin and lymphocytes on 0, 14th and 28th day post-treatment (PT). Cell-mediated (CMI) and humoral immune (HI) responses were assessed on 0 and 28 days PT. Within groups treated with the drug alone, recovery in oil of Jatropha curcas group was faster and lesions were free from mites after the eighth application. For each drug, the recovery was faster with AA as an adjunct therapy when compared with the group treated with the drug alone. Within all groups, recovery in oil of J. curcas plus ascorbic acid (OJC-AA) group was fastest and the lesions were mite-free after three applications. The overall mean values were higher for all haematological parameters in OJC-AA group. Recovery with respect to suppressed CMI and HI responses during infection was also faster in this group. Gross and microscopic pathological studies revealed a marked adverse effect of infection on skin, kidney, spleen and liver. The OJC-AA group indicated faster recovery. It is concluded from this study that oil of J. curcas was found more efficacious in controlling sarcoptic mange in sheep and AA might be beneficial as adjunct in case of sarcoptic mange to get quick recovery with lesser applications of main therapy. However, the pharmacology of AA with reference to health of skin needs to be investigated.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Ascorbic Acid; Benzoates; Cedrus; Chickens; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fabaceae; Female; India; Insecticides; Jatropha; Male; Phytotherapy; Plant Oils; Plants, Medicinal; Scabies; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of commonly used acaricidal drugs in India and also to assess the effect of ascorbic acid as adjunct therapy in 72 growing sheep with sarcoptic mange, aged 5-6 months and weighing 20.4-31.7 kg. Eight replicates of nine animals were formed based on sex, and day 0 body weight. Drugs were applied locally on the affected parts daily and recovery changes in skin lesions were observed at the time of every application. L-ascorbic acid was administered intramuscularly. Skin scrapings were collected daily from each group and examined for the presence of mites. Body weights were measured every 10th day from day 0 to 60. Nutrient digestiblity was evaluated by studying digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, nitrogen free extract, total carbohydrates and nutrient balance (nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus) for a 30-day period. The liver function was evaluated by bromosulphophthalein (BSP) dye retention time. The animals were shorn on day 60 post-treatment (PT). Meat quality assesment was carried out by killing sheep at 60 days PT and estimating pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), tenderness, muscle colour, rib eye area and fat thickness. The lambs treated with oil of Jatropha curcas ascorbic acid had significantly (P < 0.05) greater mean daily body weight gains (63.29 g) than the infected untreated control (41.10 g). This was also higher than the mean daily weight gain in other treated groups. Infected untreated sheep showed significantly (P < 0.01) reduced digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and total carbohydrate, but no significant differences for nitrogen-free extract. Treated sheep had significantly higher positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances compared with infested untreated sheep. Oil of J. curcas plus ascorbic acid (OJC-AA) treated group was better over all other treated groups with respect to nutrient digestibility. The BSP test revealed significant (P < 0.05) increase in BSP retention time in sheep with sarcoptic mange. Post -treatment, the BSP retention time decreased in all treated groups and the decrease was maximum in OJC-AA treated group. The carcasses of sheep treated with OJC-AA had significantly (P < 0.01) higher water holding capacity, rib eye area and back fat thickness than the untreated infected control group. The muscle pH and tenderness values were significantly lower in OJC-AA

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Ascorbic Acid; Benzoates; Cedrus; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fabaceae; Female; Insecticides; Jatropha; Liver Function Tests; Male; Meat; Phytotherapy; Plant Oils; Plants, Medicinal; Scabies; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Treatment Outcome; Weight Gain; Wool