GADVSU receives 5,500 lumpy skin disease vaccines

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) has received 5,500 lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccines, which will be administered to cattle suffering from the infection

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) has received 5,500 lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccines, which will be administered to cattle suffering from the infection.

Till now, 1,700 cattle have been found infected with lumpy skin disease in Ludhiana district, of which 1,500 are cows. (HT)

The university has also set up an advisory centre and issued two numbers - 6283297919 and 6283258834, where farmers can get consultation from experts regarding prevention and ways to treat the infection.

Till now, 1,700 cattle have been found infected with LSD in the district, of which 1,500 are cows. The animal husbandry department has sounded an alert to gaushalas and asked them to isolate the cattle which have symptoms of or are found suffering from the disease.

Experts say that the infectious viral disease has spread across the state and it is caused by the capripox virus of poxviridae family, that affects cattle and buffaloes . It is transmitted by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, biting flies and ticks.

The disease is characterized by mild fever for two to three days, followed by development of stiff, round cutaneous nodules (2–5 cm in diameter) all over the body. Symptoms may include lesions in the mouth, pharynx and respiratory tract; emaciation, enlarged lymph nodes, oedema of limbs, reduction in milk production and infertility. In extreme cases, it may even lead to death.

As per an advisory issued by the university, the incidence of ailment is highest in the moist summer weather.

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) extension education director Parkash Singh Brar said that although infected animals often recover within two to three weeks, milk yield reduces in lactating cattle for several weeks. The mortality rate is around 1–5%.

The varsity will hold an online interactive session on Zoom from 11 am to 2 pm on August 11 to discuss the disease.

Seven experts and progressive farmers including Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Dr Dipti Narang, Dr Swarn Singh Randhawa, Dr Jasbir Singh Bedi, Sandeep Singh Randhawa, Maninderjit Singh and Surinder Singh Dhindsa will interact with the farmers and guide them on taking measures to keep the disease in check. The meeting ID is 83344487284 password is 294820.

81 teams keeping a check to prevent infection from spreading

The district administration has constituted 81 teams of veterinary experts in Ludhiana to prevent the spread of infection.

Deputy commissioner Surabhi Malik said, “Livestock keepers must not get panicky and should immediately contact the nearest veterinary hospital if they find any animal infected with the disease.”