Phenotyping as a diagnostic tool for Dermatophiluscongolensis infection in bovines

Dermatophiluscongolensis is a gram-positive filamentous facultative anaerobic bacterium that infects wide range of animals and humans. Cattle farmers of a village from YSR district of Andhra Pradesh, India, consulted local veterinarian with the history of scabs in few animals, which was referred to college. We investigated the incidence. The scabs and crust formed on the skin of affected dairy cattle was preliminarily indicating Dermatophilosis infection. The organisms were isolated and identified by Haalstra’s method; phenotypic characterization demonstration of filamentous and motile zoospores from the lesions; and biochemical characterization to arrive at aconfirmatory diagnosis of Dermatophiluscongolensis. Based on antibiotic sensitivity, theantibiotic Amikacinwas used successfully to treat the infection along with supportive therapy and better management practices.