Abstract
Bovine subclinical mastitis was treated with a single oral dose of 7.5mg/kg of levamisole in 53 cows with 100 quarters affected. The treatment was successful in 58.9%(33 of 56 quarters). Milk production was markedly improved 3-4 months after dosage. The treatment of dry quarters with this drug was successful in more than 75%, regardless of under infusion of antibiotics.
The milk cell count was remarkably reduced 2-3 days after dosage, but increased distinctly 4-7 days after dosage. The bacterial count of milk showed a clearly significant reduction 4-11. days after dosage. In peripheral blood, there was an increase in lymphocyte count and percentage of T-cells 7 days after treatment. With its enhancing effect on cell-mediated immune responses, levamisole seemed to be of special value in the treatment of bovine subclinical mastitis.
