 Reference Base  Treatment of cutaneous granulomata in the black rhinocero... |
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Young, E., 1966. Treatment of cutaneous granulomata in the black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis.. International Zoo Yearbook 6: 276-277
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - South Africa |
| Subject: |
Diseases |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Diceros bicornis in South Africa. Microfilariae and adult filarids were found in the Black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, and described as the cause of cutaneous granulomata (Schultz and Kluge, 1960). The incidence of this condition is very high among Black rhinoceroses in South Africa. Some of these granulomata acquire enormous dimensions giving the animl a repulsive appearance.
The first sign of a developing lesion is necrosis and subsequent sloughing of the superficial layers of the skin. The absence of flies and regular spraying with insecticides do not prevent the appearance of new lesions. If the animal, however, is sprayed regularly with insecticides, the developemnt from an ulcer to a granuloma appears to be slower. This may be due to the filaricidal effect of the insecticide or to the absence of flies.
All efforts to treat our infected animals proved unsuccesful until we employed daily local treatment with the following combination of drugs.
Idoform (bactericidal and fly repellent)10 %
Sulfanilamide (bactefiostatic)10 %
BHC 10 %
(Insecticide. Formulation Multibenhex containing 75% BHC)
Zinc oxide (mild astringent)20 %
Stockholm tar qs ad (Antiseptic and antipruritic)
When the growths had already reached large dimensions, 10 % of the zinc oxide in the mixture was replaced by copper sulphate. After most of the granulation tissue had been removed by the copper suplhate, treatment with the mixture above was continued. As a rule, most of the lesions healed within seven days after the start of local or treatment. New lesions appeared repeatedly and we had to treat our rhinos continuously during the warmer months when they suffered most from this skin condition.
Some of the granulomata disappeared slowly after the daily local application of the 'Onderstepoort Blowfly Remedy' which contains 65 % alcohol (96 %), 32.35 % benzol, 2.5 % cresol (98 %) and 0.15 % sulphuric acid.
It seem possible that these lesions may be an external manifestation of systemic filariasis. Local treatment is only of temporary help and systemic treatment may prove to be more effective. Further experiments must he conducted to find a safe and effective remedy by systemic treatment.
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