Dr Kamran
Buffalo “the black gold of Pakistan” is a major milk animal of South East Asia. It contributes about 65pc of milk needs in Pakistan. According to economic survey of Pakistan 2011-12, there is 32.7 million buffalo population in Pakistan.
Among various diseases in animals, Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) is much important disease of livestock. It is endemic in Pakistan and affects buffalo more than cattle. It is highly acute and contagious disease. Disease starts with high rise in temperature up to 106-107F with sudden onset of swelling around neck region. Animal feels discomfort in respiration due to swelling and difficulty in breathing leads to death within one or two days.
HS causes heavy economic losses annually. This disease occurs due to vaccine failure. Random outbreaks occur frequently owing to multiple stress factors and carrier status of the organism (Pasteurella multocida). Haemorrhagic septicemia (HS) called “GUL GHOTOO” is more prevalent in buffaloes as compare to cow.
A study revealed that the field strains and vaccines strain were almost same and there was no significant variation in different isolates from four districts, this indicates that there might be some other reasons of vaccine failure, like problems in handling, storage, dose, along with this some other factors like season, farmhouse, over-crowding and poor management may aggravate in disease onset and spread.