Comparative evaluation of oxytetracycline and an herbal formulation in the treatment of bovine anaplasmosis

Abstract The present study investigated conventional and herbal treatments for cattle diagnosed with anaplasmosis. A total of 20 adult cattle, irrespective of sex, were randomly allocated into two equal groups: Group I and Group II (n = 10 per group). An additional 10 apparently healthy cattle were used as controls for comparative evaluation. Clinically, affected animals exhibit loss of appetite, intermittent fever, anemia, muscle weakness, elevated respiratory and heart rates, weight loss, pale mucous membranes, and visible tick infestations. Diagnosis was confirmed via Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears, which revealed dot-like Anaplasma organisms at the margins of erythrocytes, and further validated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the gold standard for detecting carrier animals. Hematological analysis revealed significantly reduced total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, neutrophil count, and platelet levels in the infected cattle compared to the healthy controls. Conversely, the total leukocyte, lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil counts were markedly elevated in the infected group. Therapeutically, Group I received oxytetracycline, whereas Group II was treated with an herbal formulation, both alongside supportive care. The herbal treatment achieved complete recovery (100%) with no fatalities, whereas oxytetracycline treatment resulted in a 70% recovery rate with three deaths. These findings underscore the efficacy, safety, and practical advantages of herbal therapies for bovine anaplasmosis, particularly in resource-limited and remote regions. The integration of such herbal formulations into cattle health management may promote sustainable parasite control and improve overall herd productivity.