Abstract:
An infectious disease with clinical symptom closely resembling those of Rinderpest was first recorded in Karachi cattle Colony in 1968. It was diagnosed a Rinderpest and control/preventive measures taken accordingly. Sometime the disease apparently seemed to respond to Rinderpest vaccination, while at other times it continued unabated despite mass vaccination. It was further noticed that the disease had seasonal incidence, the highest incidence being during the winter months.
The disease has been studied in detail by a number of local and foreign experts. The list of these experts, interalia, includes: -
1. A.W. McLurkin, FAO Expert.
2. M. Asaduzzafar, Project Director, Poultry Res. Inst. Karachi.
3. Dr. M.A. Barya, Director Research A.H., A.R.C., Islamabad.
4. Mr. Saeed Ahmad Sheikh, VRI, Lahore.
5. Mr. Fida Hussain Shah, VRI, Lahore.
Perusal of their reports indicated that:
1. opinion was divided on the correct identity of the disease;
2. the steps taken to control the disease with Rinderpest vaccine/antiserum did not prove successful and
3. All Scientists stressed the need for intensification of research efforts on the disease.
The following facts suggest that the disease is not Rinderpest.
1. Unlike Rinderpest, animals, which survived the attack, were affected again next year.
2. Rinderpest has been effectively controlled with goat/tissue culture vaccine in the whole country, but so has not been the cause at Landhi Cattle Colony, Karachi, despite repeated vaccinations.
3. Some vaccinated animals showing high rinderpest antibody titre (as assessed at the veterinary research institutes, Lahore) were reported to have succumbed to the disease.
4. Inspire of repeated efforts, the disease has not been experimentally reproduced in animals, which are known to be susceptible to rinderpest, while Rinderpest can easily be reproduced in susceptible cattle’s, buffalos and goats.
5. The pathological lesions of the disease do not resemble typical lesions of Rinderpest.
