Haryana Vet. 46 (December, 2007), pp Research Article EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF VARIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE AND BUFFALOES IN HARYANA S. C. VERMA 1 , N. K. MAHAJAN 2 , D. AGNIHOTRI and S. K. MOR Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar -125 004 ABSTRACT The information provided by the 237 field veterinarians of Haryana regarding cattle and buffaloes, showed gastro- intestinal parasitic infestation as most common problem having prevalence of 10.54% in buffaloes and 19.18% in cattle with CFR of 11.63% and 14.74%, respectively. Among the genital problems, the prevalence of anestrus and repeat breeding put together was highest. Mastitis was ranked third in cattle and buffaloes with prevalence of 6.19% and 2.71%, respectively. Milk fever was ranked seventh and ninth with prevalence of 3.95% and 1.65% among cattle and buffaloes, respectively. Haemorrhagic septicemia was ranked fifth and tenth with CFR 58.98% and 38.94% in buffaloes and cattle, respectively. Pneumonia and haemoprotozoan diseases were comparatively less prevalent. The CMR for the year 1997- 98 was found to be 30.03 per thousand. Key words: Prevalence, case fatality rate, crude mortality rate, haemorrhagic septicaemia The scope of epidemiology in modern animal husbandary practices is continuously widening for assessing economic impact of a disease and developing disease forecasting system. No systematic work appears to have been carried out to find status of various health problems of livestock in different states including Haryana. The present study was, therefore, for the first time planned to know the status of various disease problems of cattle and buffaloes which will be useful for decision making on disease control programmes and focusing research priorities. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the present study, a comprehensive questionnaire for collection of base-line data for the year 1997-98 on various diseases of buffaloes and cattle was developed and distributed among 401 veterinarians working in government veterinary hospitals in nineteen districts of Haryana. At least ten veterinary hospitals from each district, except Panchkula (having only six veterinary hospitals) were surveyed for collection of information. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s multiple correlation and student’s ‘t’ distribution test to derive pattern of disease, prevalence, crude mortality rate (CMR) and case fatality rate (CFR) due to various diseases. The prevalence, CFR and CMR were computed using following formulae where n varies from 2 to 6. The field vets were asked to rank the diseases of cattle and buffaloes in their areas 1 Vety. Surgeon, Distt. Sirsa 2 Corresponding author No. of cases of disease at a point in time Prevalence = ——————————————— × 10 n Animal population at risk at that time No. of deaths from a specific cause during a given period CFR = ———————————————— × 10 n Animals affected from that particular disease during the period No. of deaths occurred during a given period CMR = ————————————————× 10 n Animal population during the same period based on hospital record and personal observations. Finally overall ranking of each disease was calculated using scoring method (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967). The temporal distribution of various diseases was also studied from April, 1997 to March, 1998. The total population based on livestock census of the state had 21.3 lacs cattle and 43.7 lacs buffaloes. 38-40