After an outbreak of a vesicular disease in Lahore District a demoninator based active surveillance was conducted in four villages. During and after the epidemic and the homesteads were visited and interviewed from door to door. The total number of animals kept by the farmers (N = 1537) and the affected number of animals (n= 1384) by age, sex and species were enquired from the farmers and recorded on a questionnaire proforma. The clinical signs of the affected animals and their sequence were recorded.

Epidemiological investigations revealed that morbidity rate of 66.94% (n=867/1537) was higher in buffaloes than cattle which was 48.34% (n=117/242). Young animals of both species were more susceptible than adults. Morbidity rate in young cattle was 50.64% (n=39) in 77 animals but in case of adult cattle amongst the total population of 165 morbidity rate was 47.27% (n=78). In case of young buffaloes 290 (69.37%) out of 418 animals while in case of adult buffaloes morbidity rate was 63.51% (557/877). Case fatality rate was observed higher 42.85% (363/847) in buffaloes than the cattle which was 26.65 % (37/117). Frequency of clinical signs observed was found as depression (63.30%), mucosa diffusely red (61.87%), anorectic (61.48%), muzzle hyperimic encrusted (61.09%), erosions (58.49%), laminitis (56.73%), temperature 101-105°F (54.26%), drooling (53.35%), shivering (44.82%), mistitis (38.51%), temperature 105-107°F (6.18%), polypnea (5.79%), temperature 101-103°F (4.35%), cough (3.38%), diarrhoea (2.40%), subnormal (0.71%) and abortion (0.65%).

In this project 160 animals affected from the disease, 80 of each species, were selected for hematological and serological investigations. Forty healthy animals were observed as control.

Blood samples from the affected Buffaloes were tested for the total erythrocytic count (TEC), total leukocytic count (TLC), packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and differential leukocytic count (DLC) i.e. neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, basophils and their average values were observed as 3.56 ± 0.31 x 106/ul (5.18 x 106/ul), 4.90 ± 1.22 x 103/ul (6.45 x 103/ul), 26.59 ± 2.14% (29.31%), 10.13 ± 0.92 mm/Ist hr. (4.56 mm/Ist hr.), 30.54 ± 1.07% (32.55%), 59.18 ± 1.03% (56.16%), 1.78 ± 0.22% (2.41%, 5.92 ± 0.52% (4.51%), 0.29 ± 0.01% (0.48%) respectively.

Blood samples from the affected cattle were tested for the TEC, TLC, PCV, ESR and DLC i.e. neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, basophils and their average values were observed as 5.76 ± 0.32 x 106/ul (7.24 x 106/ul), 6.73 ± 0.92 x 103/ul (7.99 x 103/ul), 31.49 ± 1.59% (33.90%), 9.32 ± 1.32 mm/Ist hr. (3.16 mm/Ist hr.), 31.08 ± 1.09% (34.82%), 45.00 ± 1.05% (41.31%), 0.33 ± 0.04% (0.63%), 9.16 ± 0.46% (7.86%), 0.33 ± 0.03% (0.63%) respectively.

Serum samples from the affected buffaloes were tested for the total serum protein (TSP), serum albumin and serum globulin and their average values were came as 5.97 ± 0.56 g/dI (7.72 g/dI), 2.80 ± 0.37 g/dl (3.55 g/dll), 2.40 ± 0.95 g/dl (4.17 g/dl) respectively.


Serum samples from the affected cattle were tested for the TSP, serum albumin and serum globulin and their average values were observed as 6.43 ± 0.45 g/dl (7.58 g/dl), 2.67 ± 0.35 g/dll (2.32 g/dl), 2.67 ± 0.52 g/dI (4.26 g/dll) respectively.

Agar gel immunodiffusion test used for the antibodies detection was found positive for foot and mouth disease (FMD). Typographically two strains O (42.50%) and Asia-I (29.38%) were isolated out of 160 samples.

A total loss of Rs. 5.286 millions due to FMD in cattle and buffaloes was estimated in the four villages.

Note: Values in parenthesis are normal/standard for the respective parameter.