Cattle death toll touches 76; Botulism suspected to be cause

Udupi, April 17: With the death of two more heads of cattle in Paduvari Gram Panchayat limits near Byndoor in Udupi district on Monday, the death of cattle in the last five days has touched 76.

Deputy Commissioner M.T. Reju, who paid a visit to the affected area on Monday said that the report of post mortem viscera samples may be delayed by two more days. “Scientists from Bangalore have visited the area and have taken the samples. Besides they have given some suggestions to the local veterinary doctors on treatment”, he said.

Byndoor veterinary officer Dr Nagaraj said that though they still did not know exact cause, eight affected cattle were responding to treatment administered as per the advise of scientists from the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals ( IAHVB).

Meanwhile, veterinary experts have tentatively diagnosed the cause of cattle deaths as botulism, a rare paralytic illness caused by Botulinum toxin produced by Clostridium Botulinum bacterium. The viral infection affects a wide range of mammals, birds and fish.

"The exact cause will be known when forensic reports are available. We are administering symptomatic treatment as of now,'' said Dr Nagaraj.

The toxin enters the body by ingestion of toxin from food (food-borne botulism) or by contamination of a wound by the bacterium.

All forms of botulism lead to paralysis that typically starts with face muscles and then spreads towards the limbs. In severe forms, it leads to paralysis of the breathing muscles and causes respiratory failure. Dr Nagaraj said the diagnosis was arrived at after seeing the clinical symptoms (respiratory failure, drooling of saliva), rate of intensity of death and also differential diagnosis.

He said corroborative evidence was already there with catstle grazing on Othinene grounds where poultry, sheep, pig slaughter remains were dumped and also bio-medical waste.

"Those cattle which ingested a lot of waste died first, within a few hours and some at the spot. Others died depending on how much toxin they had ingested.The rate of death will be high in the first few days in case of botulism and will subside within 17 days,'' he added.

"There is no medicine or vaccine available for the viral infection barring symptomatic treatment,'' Dr Nagaraj said.

"The villagers should avoid grazing onthe grounds for at least 30 days,'' he added.

On Sunday, research officer from Shimoga's Indian Veterinary Biologicals Dr Sudarshan visited the place. "They have conducted investigations and collected samples to be sent to IAHVB, Bangalore. We are giving additional symptomatic treatment as per their directions,'' Dr Nagaraj added.