The Treatment of Ringworm with Silver Nitrate Pencil in Cattle: Only One Application

Abstract

In this study, topical effectiveness of silver nitrate pencil on 33 dairy cows with ringworm (Fig. 1) was evaluated. The diameter, number and localized areas of lesions were recorded in each cattle. Later lesions were first cleansed with 70 % ethyl alcohol. Skin scraping and hair specimens were collected of the margin of the lesion using a sterile scalpel blade into sterile petri dish. Lesions were scraped with sterile scalpel until bleeding slightly. Later lesion area was cauterized with a silver nitrate (nitrate d'argent) pencil (Fig. 2). This procedure was only once. Samples taken were treated with 10% potassium hydroxide, the samples were observed under the microscope. The cattle were followed for one month. This topical application method is easily applicable (only for once), economic (in terms of labor and cost of silver nitrate pencil), and effective treatment (start the hair grown on the all lesions into one week) for ringworm. This method is especially suitable for organic livestock.