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Why Degnala disease epidemic in buffaloes throughout country this year????????

Dr. Kedar Karki

Senior Veterinary Officer

Central Veterinary Laboratory

Tripureshwor

Introduction

Paddy harvesting, threshing and its storage are major agricultural activities in south Asia during

the November. Such rice straw is the major fodder for cattle and buffaloes during winter lean

period. Its a fact that rice production needs source of water supply for irrigation as water is

indispensable throughout production period. The rice straw should be properly dried before

feeding otherwise the undried straw might desiccate and such straw feeding would cause adverse

effect in health of cattle and buffaloes. The harvesting of paddy was adversely affected in Nepal

and other south Asian countries Due to long rain during the month of November and December.

The rice plants were submerged in the paddy field and the rice straw got desiccated. Due to rain

threat the farmers were compelled to store the rice straw without thorough drying. As a

consequence symptoms like drying and necrosis of tail and ear tip, swelling of legs and then

drying, necrosis and gangrenous lesion on foot, reduction in milk production by 70-80% were

observed in buffaloes fed to such straw. In Nepal such conditions were reported from districts

like Jhapa, saptari, siraha, Rautahat, Chitwan, nawalparasi, Kathmandu, Nuwakot,Banke and

Lamjung. The vet doctors and tecnnicians working in such areas were treating such condition

diagnosing as FMD, Black Quarter etc but without success.

Whats in other south asian countries?

There is interesting fact about above mentioned symptoms, geographical location and livestock

production system. During 1930s in Punjab Province of Pakistan, the health of buffaloes fed with

rice straw from vicinity of Deg River deteriorated with symptoms similar to aforementioned.

The British animal health technician working there during that time named the disease with all

above symptoms as DEGNALA. But he was unable to pin point the exact cause of that disease.

There is evidence that during 1960-70s the veterinarians in panjab area of Pakistan and india

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again discussed about this disease. In 1973 the rice straw from disease area of Punjab ludhiyana

of india was found to infected with fungus Fusarium SPP tested in kyu surryy laboratory of UK.

The investigators have claimed that due to feeding to fungus infected feed and straw, the toxin

produced during metabolism is the cause of disease and symptoms in buffaloes. In present

context above mentioned disease is not only prevalent in vicinity of Deg River but also prevalent

in all those areas where bufflaloes are kept fed with rice straw. In india this disease is seen

annually in Panjab,Hariyana, uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, bangal, Jharkhand, chhatisgard

states.

In Nepal Degnala disease was first reported in 1988 in Banke district but epidemic outbreak was

in 2000 AD in jhapa, morang, sunsari,siraha,saptari, Banke, and bardia districts. Again this time

after 12 yrs this disease is reappeared in above mentioned districts and winter rain is responsible

for it. The cause of symptoms in this disease has been thoroughly studied by this colouminst

during his Master degree in veterinary medicine. The mycotoxin produced by the metabolism of

Fusariam fungus dissolves the collagen and elastin into collagenase and elastinase respectively.

As a result in the dependent parts of ear, tail, foot blood supply is obstructed and ultimately

tissue die of anoxia. In addition to this toxin severely affects liver, lungs, heart, and kidney.

Treatment and Control

If possible avoid feeding of desiccated straw Feed properly dried straw and feed half quantity. Give adequate supplementation of green

fodder and tree fodder.

Treat the infected with sodium hydroxide @ 1% for 20kg straw. If available use pentasulphate @ 60 gm on first day and then @30 gm for next 15 days. Antidegnala liquid @ 10ml orally for 10 days. Mineral mixture and lactoline should be given along with straw.

What can be done for future control?

Vet techinican and farmers should be trained regarding the prevention.

Priority should be given for such disease.

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Lets hope winter rain wont come next year. We cant wait until symptoms to appear on

buffaloes, in winter lean period give above mentioned drugs along with straw. If symptoms

appear, report as soon as possible.