SOME CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL OBSERVATIONS OF PARTURIENT HAEMOGLOBINURIA IN NILI-RAVI BUFFALOES (BUBALUS BUBALIS)

M. Z. AKHTAR, A. KHAN, T. ZAMAN AND N. AHMAD¹

Abstract

    This study was executed to know the clinico-epidemiology of parturient haemoglobinuria (PHU) in buffaloes. A total of 60 buffaloes suffering from PHU were randomly selected from field cases occurring in Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Jhang districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Sixty clinically healthy buffaloes of similar description from the same localities were also included in the study as control. The most prominent clinical sign was passing of red to coffee coloured urine. Milk production in affected buffaloes was significantly (P<0.001) reduced, while respiration and pulse rates were accelerated (P<0.001). Ruminal motility was significantly weak and reduced alongwith characteristic straining while defecating.  The case fatality was 15%. A significantly higher occurrence of PHU was observed in the winter season (41.8%). Maximum number of affected buffaloes (25.0%) was in 4^th lactation. Twenty seven (45.0%) buffaloes developed haemoglobinuria in the post calving period and majority (59.3%) of these were within 1-23 days of calving. Of the 33(55.0%) PHU affected pregnant buffaloes, 18 (54.6%) were in their third trimester. The highest cases of PHU were observed in buffaloes producing 10 or more litres of milk/day (42.5%). Recurrence of PHU was observed in 18.3% buffaloes. Berseem constituted a major component (65%) of fodders of most of the PHU affected buffaloes. Significantly lowered serum phosphorus, copper and selenium, while higher potassium, iron and molybdenum, were found in affected buffaloes as compared to healthy buffaloes. It was concluded that PHU mostly affects high yielding buffaloes in their 3-5^th lactation particularly in early lactation or advanced pregnancy. Disease is strongly associated with Berseem feeding in winter season.

Key words:  Buffaloes, parturient haemoglobinuria, epidemiological factors, clinical signs.