Bovine brucellosis: Exploring the role of phytonutrients in treating the disease

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology 2024-12, Vol.33 (6), p.897-903
• Main Authors: Kaleem, Muhammad, Durani, Aneela Zameer, Safdar, Muhammad, Rizwan, Muhammad Arif, Khan, Iahtasham, Iqbal, Muhammad Kashif, Mehmood, Khalid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-inflammatory agents; Antibiotics; Antibodies; Antigens; Birth weight; Brucella; Brucellosis; Fetuses; Genetic crosses; Hematology; Herbal medicine; Medical treatment; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Original Article; Pathology; Phytochemicals; Selenium; Streptomycin; Vaccines; Vitamin E; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 1618-565X; 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-024-03612-3

Bovine brucellosis is a very important zoonotic disease of economic interest throughout the world. The current study compares the therapeutic effects of phytochemicals vs conventional antibiotics in the treatment of bovine brucellosis in relation to the production of antigens and antibodies, retention of fetal membranes, and birth weight of offspring. For this purpose, a total of 20 crossbreed cows were divided into four groups (i.e., A, B, C, and D; n  = 5 in each group). The animals in groups A, B, and C included Brucella -positive cows, while group D had control-negative (healthy) animals. Cows of group A were treated with antibiotics (oxytetracyclin and streptomycin), fluxin meglumin, vitamin E, and selenium and immunized with Brucella RB-51 (Bivishot) and FMD oil-based vaccine; group B cows were treated with a herbal product Safi®, instead of antibiotics; group C cows were only treated with flunixin meglumin and vitamin E and selenium and immunized with RB-51 and FMD vaccines, while cows in group D were only immunized with RB-51 and FMD vaccines. All groups’ cows were evaluated for Brucella antibodies through ELISA on days 0, 30, 90, and 180 post-treatment and for antigens through real-time PCR on day 180 post-treatment. Moreover, the treated cows were also observed for retention of fetal membranes and birth weight of calves. According to the results, titers of antibodies (OD values) against Brucella abortus on day 180 post-treatment were found to be less ( P   0.05) was found between OD values of group A and D cows. The C t values, determined through real-time PCR, were higher in group A (37.2 ± 0.9) and D (> 40) cows compared with B (35.0 ± 2.5) and C (32.5 ± 1.2) groups’ cows. Furthermore, the birth weight of calves was greater in group A and D cows compared with B and C groups’ cows. Placenta dropping time was smaller in the A and D groups’ animals compared with group B and C cows. In conclusion, a combination of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, and immune boosters (group A) may be used as a therapeutic approach to overcome bovine Brucellosis. Additionally, the herbal medicine Safi was not effective in treating brucellosis in this study. However, further research is needed to explore the effects of different sources and doses of phytonutrients at a large scale.