therapeutic effects of ethanol extract of propolis on experimental cutaneous dermatophytosis in cattle

Trichophyton verrucosum has been introduced as a main cause of ringworm in the cattle (1). prophylactic and over-dose administrations of some anti-fungal drugs have caused drug resistance (2). so, there is a need to introduce newer drugs for the treatment of dermatophytosis. since the ringworm is an important zoonotic disease (3) and also causes economic disadvantages in leather industry, this study was conducted to examine the therapeutic effects of ethanol extract of propolis on experimental dermatophytosis. for this purpose, two six-month-old female calves with a weight of approximately 150 kg were used. at first, thorax and flanks on the right and left sides were shaved. after weakening the immune system of animals, 0.50 mcfarland of t. verrucosum spore solution was inoculated dermally in each area. after the development of cutaneous dermatophytosis, the lesions on the left thorax were treated with ethanol extract of propolis, the lesions on the right thorax were treated with ketoconazole ointment, and the lesions on the left flank were treated with glycerin, daily for 14 days. the lesions on the right flank were not treated. the results of this study showed that the ethanol extract of propolis, similar to ketoconazole, was able to remove t.verrucosum and improve cutaneous lesions of cattle. the anti-fungal activities of propolis might be due to the pinobanksin and aromatic acids presented in it.