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.