Buffalo diseases were the same as those of cattle with few differences in their prevalence, pathogenicity and symptomatology. Parasitic diseases are the most prevalent. Neoascaris vitulorum is the most common helminthosis of young buffalo calves. Coccidial infection, louse infestation, psoroptic mange, trypanosomiasis, haemorrhagic cutaneous filariasis has been diagnosed in the Amazon Valley. Among the infections and contagious disease to which buffaloes are subjected, the following can be detected: foot-and-mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, brucellosis, tuberculosis, rabies and blackleg. Also present in this region were the non-infections diseases: hypophosphataemia, hypocalcaemia and plant poisoning. Details related to categorization of these diseases are discussed.

The study evaluated the antibody response and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels in naive bovine calves from a Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus (FMDV) potency test. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated from blood samples and total RNA was extracted. Two step quantitative (Real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was used for measurement of IFN-gamma specific mRNA. Plasma samples were screened to detect anti-non structural proteins (NSP) antibodies for FMDV in 3AB NSP antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma samples were found free for anti- NSP antibodies for FMDV in vaccinated bovine calves as evaluated in 3AB NSP antibody ELISA test. Increase in mRNA expression level of IFN-gamma after 15 days post vaccination (DPV) was found unequivocally in all five vaccinated calves (more than two-fold increase in 4 out of 5 calves). Liquid phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) test results also revealed highest humoral antibody response on 15 DPV. Monovalent FMDV vaccination elicited highest antibody titre on 15 DPV in correlation with elevated IFN-gamma mRNA level. Humoral and cellular immunity both play important role in protection against FMDV. The study will help in further understanding the role played by both the humoral and cellular immune response against FMDV.

Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) caused by Pasteurella multocidaserotype B:2 is an economically important disease of cattle and buffaloes, which causes heavy economic losses due to sudden death of animals in developing countries like Pakistan. In this country, animals were being vaccinated by alum (adjuvant) precipitated vaccine twice a year. Immunity induced through this prophylactic measure lasts for 3 to 4 months only, which reflect an un-protective state of the animals between two vaccinations. A new HS oil based vaccine has been developed by adding an adjuvant Montanide ISA-50V2 with the ratio of 1:1. The bacterial dry weight has been adjusted to 2 mg/ml which results in to reduction of dose per animal from 5 ml (alum precipitated) to 2 ml. The addition of enrichments and aeration (sparging and vortexing) has resulted in dense bacterial growth of Pasteurella multocida. The new vaccine has passed sterility, safety and potency tests as per OIE, 2017. This new product has low viscosity and single shot is expected to confer solid immunity against HS for one year. Active Mouse Protection Test, Passive Mouse Protection test and Indirect Haem-Agglutination Tests have been used to evaluate its potency. Properties like easy to inject with no side effects such as swelling at the injection site, have motivated the livestock owners to use this new product to protect their animals against fatal HS disease which will ultimately result in the increased productivity of livestock in Punjab, Pakistan.