A laboratory test conducted to specify the etiology of the unspecified disease that killed a number of buffaloes in Kangjan village under Meluri sub-division of Phek district recently confirmed it to be Haemorrhagic Septicaemia.
The test was conducted at the ELISA laboratory in Kohima by the Nagaland animal husbandry and veterinary services department.
The department on Friday said it was confirmed from the isolate that the etiology of the disease was a Gram negative, Coccobacilli, Bipolar organism called Pasteurellamultocida. Hence, the disease is confirmed to be Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, it stated.
The department asked the livestock owners to be vigilant and coordinate with its district office in the event of buffalo mortalities in the future.
It directed the chief veterinary officers to initiate a control and containment plan in coordination with the department’s directorate office and ELISA Laboratory as a sensitivity test has also been performed on the isolate.
Sudden and unusual death of buffaloes due to some unknown disease was reported in Kangjan village in the first week of this month.
Following the report, a technical team of the department carried out a preliminary investigation and treatment of the affected animals in the village.
The team observed from the clinical symptoms that the mortality may be due to the peracute form of Haemorrhagic Septicaemia which is caused by bacteria called Pasteurella Multocida.
It said reporting of such cases to the right authority of the department is of utmost importance for timely initiation of control and containment plan.
The department also requested the livestock owners not to open the carcass nor consume the dead animals but follow proper procedures in disposing of them in coordination with the department officers.