Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 8
The cause of ‘sudden and unusual mortality’ of buffaloes in Kangjang Village under Meluri Sub-division in Phek District may be due to acute form of Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS), the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH &VS) informed today.
However, it is based on clinical observation and the actual cases of death (Aetiology) would be confirmed only after laboratory test, the Department stressed in an update via DIPR.
The Morung Express had earlier reported that a two-member team had been dispatched to village to investigate on September 7 after reports of mysterious death of buffaloes in Kanjang in the recent past.
As per the Department’s update, the team carried out preliminary survey/investigation and treatment of the affected animals.
Meanwhile, an AH &VS source informed that the team is still at one of the affected sites and reportedly around buffaloes 36-38 have died so far.
It was further informed that the team is finding it difficult to assess the affected animals due to inaccessibility of the terrain as the villagers practice rearing of animals under ‘free range’ system.
However, only one region appears to be affected, the source added.
“30 animals affected still under surveillance by the visiting team,” another source at AH &VS Directorate informed.
In the meantime, the AH&VS Department has requested the public/livestock owners to remain vigilant on any sudden death of their animals and report such cases to the nearest veterinary institute for further investigations.
“It may be reiterated that reporting the matter to the right authority is of utmost importance, i.e. AH & Veterinary Services Department in this case, for timely initiation of control & containment plan,” it added.
The Department further urged the livestock owners to neither open the carcass nor consume the dead animals, but to follow proper procedures in disposing the dead animal in coordination with the Department officers.
What is Haemorrhagic Septicaemia
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) is “an acute, fatal, septicaemic disease of cattle and water buffaloes caused by a gram negative bacterium Pasteurella multocida.
The organism is capable of surviving in moist soil and water for up to 2-3 weeks, it said.
Cattle and water buffaloes are the primary species affected and water buffaloes are considered to be highly susceptible, it added, further informing that animals between the ages of 6 and 24 months are the most severely affected during outbreaks.
The disease has been reported in swine, fallow deer and sporadically in horses, donkeys, elephant and yak.
As per the FAO, the control of HS is best achieved through good husbandry practices, including acceptable plane of nutrition, increased awareness of the disease, early reporting systems and organized vaccination programs.
Different types of vaccines have been developed including inactivated oil-adjuvanted vaccines providing adequate protection between 9-12 months, and alum-precipitated vaccines with protection of up to 6 months, it added.
