Observations on a dermatophilosis outbreak in Brahman cattle in Guadeloupe. Description, epidemiological and economical aspects

A severe outbreak of dermatophilosis occurred in 1985 in a herd of Brahman cows imported from Martinique in Guadeloupe in July 1983. Little was known on this disease in Guadeloupe until then, for the local zebu breed is naturally highly resistant to diseases transmitted by ticks or associated with them. Conditions of appearance and development of the disease were studied in relation with herd management, climate and treatments applied. There was no evidence of the disease during the first 6 months following the importation, in a feedlot management. The first lesions of dermatophilosis appeared about 2 months after the animals were allowed to graze on pastures infested with ticks. Then, thirty percent of the herd became infected. Development of the infection increased dramatically as the humid season approached, and all the 29 Brahman cows showed lesions in July 1985. Only drastic treatments, including antibiotics and local disinfection, associated with the removal from pastures into covered stables allowed the recovery from the disease. Nevertheless, the disease caused the death of 13 head. Differences in individual reactions were also noted, and 7 different types of evolution were identified. These observations provided informations about the epidemiology of dermatophilosis in the climatic conditions of Caribbean humid tropics. They showed the economic importance of this severe disease for cattle in the region and the sensitivity of exotic breeds.