CERTAIN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF ANTHRAX IN LIVESTOCK
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Date
2018-07
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR
Abstract
Present study aimed at studying the outbreak epidemiology of anthrax in livestock
in Karnataka. It also aimed in isolating and characterizing Bacillus anthracis from
outbreak areas. A retrospective study over a period of 17 years was done based on the
outbreak data available from ICAR-NIVEDI. It could be noticed that dry region of
Karnataka were more affected than hilly zones and transition zones and number of
outbreaks in coastal areas were nil. It was observed that highest number of outbreaks
happened during September (13.13%) followed by August and October which are post
monsoon and monsoon seasons of Karnataka. Least number of out breaks occurred
during April and May which are dry season. Statistical analysis revealed that the
environmental factors soil pH (6.98 ± 0.01), soil moisture (24.77 ± 2.52) %, available soil
calcium (921 ± 75.97) mg/kg, soil potassium (128.39 ± 64.17) ppm and wind velocity
(2.96 ± 0.68) km / hrs have positive impact on presence of anthrax. Risk prediction map
revealed that north eastern taluks and south eastern parts of Karnataka are the risky
zones in further outbreaks. In outbreak investigation study, it was possible to find that
sheep were the species and 1 to 3 years were the age group primarily affected.
Unscientific housing, unscientific disinfection, carcass management and absence of
proper vaccination were the important management practices noticed to be the cause of
initiation of disease and creation of incubator areas. Upon isolation and characterization,
13 out of 17 clinical samples collected from different areas of Karnataka were found to
be positive for Bacillus anthracis and confirmed through PCR. Five out of 15 soil
samples were positive for anthrax. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all field isolates
collected during the study grouped in same clad.