Effectiveness of Thymus vulgaris essential oil on ovine mammary pustular dermatitis

Toxicology, University of Messina, Italy Abstract The effectiveness of Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oil (TvEO) for topical use in 21 sheep affected by mammary pustular dermatitis (MPD), not subjected to previous antibacterial therapy, was studied. After the evaluation of the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated microorganisms(Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus) in milk samples to TvEO, some antimicrobials drugs (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, doxycycline, florfenicol and enrofloxacin) and Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau EO (CvEO), the sheep, divided in two groups, were treated topically for 7 days with TvEO(13 animals) and CvEO (8 animals) respectively. The results showed that only TvEO induced a decrease in clinical signs 3 days after treatment and the complete disappearance of udder lesions after 7 days. No revival of infection was observedin the following months. The use of TvEOcould be an alternative to antibiotic treatment in ovine affected by MPD