Vet department all set to control Brucellosis

Around 1,500 milk samples will be collected in DK to screen prevalence

World Health Organisation (WHO) considers Brucellosis to be the world’s most widespread zoonosis. Brucellosis caused by bacterium Brucella Abortus affects bovines.

This disease causes abortions, loss of progeny and low milk yield. 

Brucellosis being highly contagious zoonosis affects over five lakh people in the world every year. According to the Office International Des Epizooties (OIE) 2002 report, prevalence of Brucellosis is 17 per cent in the organised dairy farms in India.

With an aim to control the spread of the disease, central government this year has started ‘National Control Programme on Brucellosis’ (NCPB), a five-year intensive location targeted control programme.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department Deputy Director Dr K V Halagappa said that the department is all set to conduct screening programmes under the scheme. Around 1,500 milk samples will be collected from Karnataka Milk Federation Diary in DK, bulk milk coolers, chilling centers, Milk Producers Cooperative Society and private milk vendors.

The milk will be pooled and various tests such as Milk Ring Test, Rose Bengal Plate Test, Serum Agglutination Test, ELISA will be conducted. The infected samples will be used to identify the villages with infected cattle, he said.

As many as 368 villages in Dakshina Kannada and around 27,482 villages in Karnataka will be screened for Brucellosis. DK has around 4.12 lakh cattle according to the 2007 livestock census, informs Halagappa.

As Brucellosis is common in areas with high rainfall and humidity, extra attention will be paid to identify infected animals, he adds.

Vaccinations

“Vaccinations will be administered to as many as 10,000 female calves in DK district, to protect them from Brucellosis. The vaccination will be mostly administered to the cattle in the infected villages. However, this programme will be held annually and vaccinating the calves will be made a regular practice,” says Dr Halagappa.

The animals will be vaccinated with ‘B Abortus Calfhood vaccine S19’. Training programme has already been imparted to the veterinarians and sensitisation programmes in villages has already been held regarding the vaccination programme. The collection of milk samples and tests will be completed by the end of July and the vaccinations will be administered before August end. “The government has allotted Rs 3.027 lakhs for the tests and vaccinations,” informed Dr Halagappa.

Vaccination for Foot and Mouth disease

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department Deputy Director Dr K V Halagappa informed that the Foot and Mouth Disease third round of vaccination will be held in August and September this year.

The first round of vaccination was held in August and September 2011 and the second round in February and March 2012. As many as 5.35 lakh vaccinations have already been administered to cattle, buffaloes and pigs in the first two rounds, he said.