3. RESULTS
All 42 samples from 16 animals from 9 farms tested from Kaski and Tanahun district of Gandaki province were confirmed positive for LSD. Among the positive, 15 animals (11 cattle and 4 water buffalo) from 8 farms were from the Kaski district while 1 cattle was from Tanahun district (Table 1). The average age of the animals confirmed LSD was 5.46 years (Standard deviation (SD) = 1.75 years) while the median age was 5 years and ranged from 3 to 9 years old. Disaggregated data showed that the mean age was 5 years (SD= 1.66, Median age= 4.75 and Range= 3- 9 years) in cattle and 6.87 years in water buffalo (SD= 1.31, Median age= 7.25 years and Range= 5- 8 years old).
The overall morbidity was 4.85% (95% CI= 3.01- 7.73%) (n= 16/330). The morbidity among the cattle was 7.23% (95% CI= 3.79- 12.29%) (n= 12/166) while the morbidity among the water buffalo was 2.44% (95% CI= 0.67- 6.13%) (n= 4/164). None of the animals died from LSD in the study area. Among the animal affected, 50% animals were Jersey cattle (n= 8/ 16), 25% Murrah buffalo (n=4/16), 18.75% Holstein Friesian (n= 3/16) and 6.25% local Zebu cattle (n= 1/16). All these 16 animals were lactating and 3 of them were pregnant. However, during the time of observation, none of them had aborted. The reduction in milk production among these affected animals was found substantial. Out of 16 LSD positive animals, milk reduction was observed in 15 animals. On average, there was a reduction of 58.75% (SD= 31.28%, Median loss= 50% and Range= 0- 100%) milk production during the time of visit compared to the average milk production of 9.53 liters milk per day before the disease (SD= 4.2 liters, Median= 10 liters per day and Range= 2- 17 liters per day). Milk reduction was not observed in one of the cattle affected and was producing 12 liters of the milk similar to before the disease. When disaggregated by cattle and buffalo, milk reduction was found higher in buffaloes with an average loss of 72.5% loss (SD= 29.29%, Median loss= 70% and Range= 50- 100%). In cattle, the average milk loss was 54.16% (SD= 32.6%, Median loss= 50% and Range= 0- 100).
The major clinical features observed among the LSD confirmed animals include swollen lymph nodes (100% of animals), nasal and lachrymal discharge (81.25% of animals), nodular lesions in the skin (75%), fever (50% of animals), and reduced milk production (93.75%) (Table 2). Among the farm characteristics, vectors were present in all affected farms. Major vectors include mosquitoes, flies, and ticks. The number of vectors was excessive in 3 farms (33.33%), high in 4 farms (44.44%), and relatively lower in 2 farms (22.22%) (Table 2). Five out of these 9 farms (55.6%) had a history of the introduction of new animals within a period of the past six months. Three farms had brought animals from within Kaski district while one farm had brought cattle from the Chitwan district of Bagmati Province and one farm had brought cattle from the Sarlahi district of Province 2.