Brucellosis is one of the main diseases which played a blemished role in destroying the economy of livestock farmers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the form of low productivity and reproductive disorders. In district Poonch, abortions rates in bovines have been increased tremendously during the last decade. To find out the Status of brucellosis in cattle and buffalo, 300 animals (n=150 cattle; n=150 buffalo) were randomly selected and screened for brucellosis in district Poonch AJK. Various risk factors like species, age, sex, pregnancy, lactation, abortion, breeds, repeat breeding, retained placenta, housing, feeding, management were also evaluated for their impact on occurrence of brucellosis in this area. Data regarding risk factors of each animal was recorded in a Performa (Attached as annexure A). Serum samples were collected from these animals and analyzed through RBPT. The serum samples positive for Brucella abortus through RBPT were further subjected to indirect ELISA for further confirmation. Serum samples analysis was done at University Diagnostic Lab, University of Veterinary and Animal Science, Lahore. The results showed the overall seropositivity of 3.7% and 2.7% in cattle and buffalo through RBPT and i-ELISA, respectively. Moreover the result revealed that in cattle the positivity was more (4.6%) and in buffalo was comparatively less (2.7%) through RBPT and through i-ELISA same more positivity (3.4%) in cattle than buffaloes (2.0%). The results revealed that positivity of brucellosis increases with the age. The positivity in non-pregnant was more than that of pregnant while the positivity in non-lactating animals more than the lactating animals. The animals with the history of abortion and retained placenta were more serological positive than the animals without history such history. In breed wise comparison crossbreed cattle and Nili-Ravi buffaloes evidenced more serological positive
43
Summary
percentage. Sex wise the female animals have more positivity compared to male animals. As far as village wise positivity Hajera, Davarandi, Mandol, Madarpur, Nakkar were evidenced for presence of brucellosis. Regarding impact of risk factors in the occurrence of brucellosis, statistically there was non-significant (≥0.5) difference observed in this study. The findings of this study evidenced that brucellosis is present and endemic in cattle and buffaloes in the district Poonch. However it was suggested that more surveys are required across the country in order to formulate a policy for prevention and control of brucellosis in livestock.