An unidentified buffalo disease in Remote Mountains of Far West Nepal
2010
B.S. Shrestha | B.R. Joshi
In the remote mountain districts of far west Nepal, an unidentified chronic debilitating disease has been recorded primarily in adult buffalo population since last 10-15 years. The disease locally known as “Khari disease” is characterized by weak, thin and porous hooves with chalky dust powder formation associated with general weakness, anorexia, dry and scaly skin with white patches, fatigue of brachial and major skeletal muscle. The symptoms are mostly evident in the lactating buffaloes particularly during dry winter months. The other symptoms are pruritus, emaciation, low production and dermal lesion above the hoof. The disease is recorded more in stall fed animal, which becomes lame and unable to walk. Although, accurate prevalence figures are unavailable, about 4-5% of the adult buffalo population is regarded to be affected with annual mortality of about 2% in clinically affected animals. Some therapeutic attempts with ivermectin injection and mineral supplementation have shown only temporary relief. This disease has seriously affected the livelihoods of farm families dependent heavily upon buffaloes. The disease has not been investigated properly so far, due to funding constraints, poor technical expertise, remoteness, inaccessibility and conflict situation and is in need of technical and financial support from the international community.
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