Clinico-Microbiological and Therapeutic Aspects of Glanders in Equines

Abstract

The role of glanders therapy as an alternative to test and slaughter policy was investigated in 13 draught equines (1 horse, 2 mares and 10 mules). The disease was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by isolation of Burkholderia mallei on blood agar and sterile potato slices. Mallein test was positive in 6 (46.15 %) of the 13 animals. All isolates from the 13 equines were sensitive to chloramphenicol, danofloxacin, norfloxacin and co-trimoxazole whereas penicillin and cephalexin were the least effective in vitro antibiotics. These animals were treated for 4 days with Ringer's-lactate-dextrose 500 ml + dimetyl-sulfoxide 60-80 ml intravenously and Inj. Norfloxacin 5% 35-50 ml intramuscularly (1st round of treatment). Five animals were treated again similarly (2nd round) after two weeks of the first round. All treated animals showed a dramatic improvement in the severity of the disease condition which lasted for 2-3 weeks after which the signs rebounded. Even the second round of treatment was met with the same fate. The treatment was not associated with any side-effect except in two cases which suffered injection site swelling. The possibility of a cure in clinical glanders using a longer course of treatment is proposed.