Potential Clinical Role of Propolis in Treatment of Clinical Ovine and Caprine Listeriosis

ABSTRACT

In this study, we have tested the possible use of propolis, one of the few natural remedies that exhibits potential therapeutics properties, in combination with some antibacterial drugs for treatment of clinical ovine and caprine listeriosis that was described and diagnosed. Three private sheep flocks of 485 sheep and 2 private goat flocks of 275 goats were carefully clinically examined after appearance of different forms of suspected clinical listeriosis. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological and bacteriological examinations. The infected sheep and goats were divided into groups based on the clinical form of listeriosis for field treatment. In ovine listeriosis, 73 out of 485 sheep were affected with 15.05% overall morbidity and 10.96% case fatality rates, respectively. In eaprine listeriosis, 55 out of 275 goats were affected with 20% overall morbidity rate and no case fatality rate. Encephalitic listeriosis was more prevalent among sheep while listerial abortion and septicaemic listeriosis were more prevalent among goats. Histopathologically, the brain tissues showed extensive perivascular mononuclear cuffing with microabscesses. Bacteriologicailly, L. monocytogenes was isolated from [31.09%] and [26 .9 8%] of collected samples in sheep and goats respectively. The field treatment revealed that the affected sheep and goats treated with biopropolis alone or with antibiotic combination regimen reduced the overall severity of listeriosis better than those treated with antibiotic alone [ampicillin or cefotaxime alone] or cefotaxime alternative with gentamicin and trimethoprimsuiphadimethoxine combination. Combined treatment with ampicillin-biopropolis dosage regimen was found to be the most effective