Buffalo-Pox Management in Buffalo: Disease Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Control, and Prevention

Buffalo-Pox is a viral disease that affects buffaloes, cattle, and other animals in India, causing skin eruptions and fever. It’s highly contagious and can infect humans who come into contact with infected animals. There is no specific treatment, but it can be prevented by keeping wounds clean and free from flies. Vaccine development has been unsuccessful.

Buffalo-Pox Management in Buffalo

Causes of Buffalo-Pox

Buffalo-Pox is caused by the buffalo-Pox virus (BPXV), a member of the family Poxviridae whose natural host is the buffalo. It primarily affects buffalo, although cows and people have also been reported. It belongs to the Orthopoxvirus (OPV) genus and the Chordopoxvirinae subfamily. Buffalo-Pox follows a pattern defined as emerging and re-emerging; it typically occurs in both sporadic and epidemic forms in residential and commercial agricultural settings.

Disease cycle of Buffalo-Pox

Buffalo-Pox is a viral disease that has been seen in buffalo since 1934. Cows and people are also susceptible to sickness. Outbreaks have occurred in Pakistan, Egypt, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Sand flies and midges are common vectors of the virus. Buffalo-Pox can cause lesions in numerous body regions, resulting in a 30-35% decrease in milk supply.

The buffalo-Pox cycle involves the disease infecting young and old buffaloes, which subsequently spreads to humans who come in touch with sick animals. It can lead to widespread infection, mastitis, and secondary bacterial infections. The disease may also be passed from buffalo to cows and milkmaids to both species.

What are the Symptoms of Buffalo-Pox Disease?

Buffalo-Pox disease symptoms include a rise in body temperature after an incubation period of 2 to 5 days.
The animal develops small, red spots and bumps that merge into vesicles, which heal within 15 to 20 days.
The lesions mainly occur on the udder and teats in females and on the scrotum and inside of the thighs in males, which are often hidden from view due to dirt.
The disease can result in high morbidity and productivity loss, especially in milk animals, as it causes mastitis and reduces milk yield.
Mastitis occurs in about 50% of infected animals, and the reduction in milk production can be permanent in severe cases.

Diagnosis of Buffalo-Pox in Buffalo

Buffalo-Pox is diagnosed mostly based on clinical indicators and the animal’s history. Distinctive papules and vesicles on the skin and mucous membranes aid diagnosis. Microscopically, the fluid from the vesicles may be tested for poxvirus inclusion bodies. Serological assays such as ELISA and PCR can also be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

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When in doubt, send the samples to a diagnostic laboratory for additional examination. It is critical to distinguish buffalo-Pox from other illnesses with similar clinical characteristics, such as bovine herpesvirus, bovine papular stomatitis, and vesicular stomatitis. A thorough inspection and history of the animal can aid in the right illness diagnosis.

Treatment and Control of Buffalo-Pox Disease

Buffalo-Pox disease lesions normally cure on their own in 15-20 days. To avoid subsequent bacterial infections, good hygiene should be maintained. The afflicted regions should be cleansed with a potassium permanganate solution before applying an antibiotic ointment. Antibiotics may be prescribed to control bacterial infections in severe cases. The lesions of buffalo-Pox heal on their own and do not require special measures except for practicing good hygiene.

Preventive and Management Measures to Control Buffalo-Pox Disease

Vaccination is effective way to prevent Buffalo-Pox sickness. Scarification in the perineum using calf lymph or material taken from sick animal sores is frequently used to give the vaccination. Proper cleanliness should be maintained at all times to avoid spreading the disease, and infected animals should be segregated. Before using milk from diseased animals, it should be cooked.

To avoid human-to-human transmission, veterinarians and milk attendants should take the necessary measures while handling affected animals. Cleaning the lesions with potassium permanganate and applying antiseptic ointment is recommended. Affected animals should be isolated and milked by separate milkers. Boiling milk from affected animals before use is necessary.

Vaccination Schedule for Buffalo-Pox Disease in Buffalo

Vaccination may be undertaken with calf lymph or material collected from lesions if the disease is serious. The vaccination schedule for buffalo-pox disease in buffaloes varies depending on the vaccine used and the animal’s age. Generally, the first dose is given at around 3-6 months, with a booster shot given 4-6 weeks later. Annual revaccination is recommended to maintain immunity. Specific immunisation recommendations and schedules should be discussed with a veterinarian.

Impact of Buffalo-Pox Disease

Humans who come into touch with diseased buffaloes, notably veterinarians and milk attendants, are in danger of contracting Buffalo-Pox. Humans are more vulnerable to poxviruses such as buffalopox when smallpox immunization has been discontinued. The virus mostly produces sores on the hands, face, and legs. Milking infected animals is a key method of transmission, and nosocomial infections in burn patients and paramedics have been reported. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.

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Conclusion

Buffalo-Pox is a highly infectious viral disease that affects buffaloes and causes significant financial losses in the dairy and animal husbandry industries. Papules, vesicles, and pustules on the skin and mucous membranes are symptoms of the condition. Buffalo-Pox is mostly diagnosed based on clinical signs, history, and pathology results.

Controlling the illness requires maintaining cleanliness and isolating affected animals. Vaccination is another efficient control method. Preventive measures include boiling afflicted animals’ milk before use and avoiding contact with infected animals. The disease in buffaloes can be successfully controlled with proper management and preventative measures.

Buffalo-Pox Management in Buffalo: Disease Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Control, and Prevention

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