Management of bovine papillomatosis using an autogenous vaccine: A case study in Bukura Agricultural College, Western Kenya

Abstract

Bovine Papillomatosis is a papillomavirus infection in cattle characterized by presence of warts of various sizes on the body of the affected animals. The virus usually affects the epithelial cells of the skin causing hyperproliferative lessions. Six types of papillomavirus are involved where BVP-3,BVP-4 and BVP-6 types cause true papillomas. Five cases of bovine papillomatosis were noted on Bukura Agricultural College farm where the diseases presented as dry cauliflower-like warts of varying sizes especially on the neck and shoulder regions. Some smaller warts were also found around the eyes. Diagnosis was based on the clinical signs. An autogenous bovine specific wart vaccine wasprepared from the wart samples and administered subcutaneously three times at two weeks interval.The warts started regressing 28 days after the first vaccination (day 0) and disappeared after 10 weeks.Based on the previous studies, this case study confirms that an autogenous bovine papillomavirus specific vaccine is a successful method of controlling bovine papillomatosis. Key words; Bovine Papillomatosis, autogenous vaccine, control.