Vets Vision (2009) Vol.1, Issue 1, p. 85-87. RECOVERY OF CATTLE FROM HUMPSORE BY TOPICAL APPLICATION OF A FORMULATED OINTMENT Shibabrata Pattanayak Abstract: Humpsore is a cutaneous form of stephanofilarosis which is having no low cost treatment for complete cure. Some herbal ointments, antibacterial agent- Povidone iodine, anti-nematodal drug- Levamisole are used in a trial in different combinations and compared with the topical application of formulated ointment which contains diethyl carbamazin citrate powder, levamisole powder, sublimated sulphur powder and boric acid powder in semisolid paraffin base. Recurrence of the symptoms seen in all the trials, except in the cases treated by the formulated ointment. Symptoms recurred in only one case out of thirty six cases treated by the ointment afterwards and that case was also cured by the repetition of the same treatment. Keywords: Humpsore. Diethyl carbamazin citrate, Levamisole. Introduction Humpsore, a common disease of cattle , is manifested by chronic lesions on the hump which frequently damages when cattle rub against the rough objects. The disease is characterised by a sore of generally 3-15 cm. diameter. In the sore, initially small papules arise which later coalesce to form itchy lesions. Then dried exudates of the hairless area forms a thick, crumbly scab which may crack with the appearance of blood stained moisture in the crack (Blood et.al, 1985). Humpsore of cattle in India is caused by a microfilariae, Stephanofilaria assamensis. In buffalo, Stephanofilaria zaheeri causes dermatitis around and inside the ears, referred to as “ear sore” or contagious otorrhoea. Musca conducens, a biting fly, is the known insect vector of S. assamensis. They deposit the microfilaria on abraded skin which causes the disease. Similar types of disease are found in goat and some other species of animals in many countries (Soulsby, 1982). The treatment of cutaneous stephanofilarosis in the field is traditionally done by the parenteral use of costly drug Ivermectin or Levamisole with local use of antiseptic cream. Many herbal ointments are also available in the market for that purpose. Partial cure of the sore is achieved in such treatments, but recurrence of the disease is seen after a few days. Present study was conducted to find a low cost ointment for complete cure of the disease. *Assistant Director, ARD (Microbiology), Institute of Animal Health & Veterinary Biologicals (R&T), Kolkata 700036, West Bengal, India. E-mail: dr.pattanayak@yahoo.co.in