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Ephemeral fever
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Causes |
- It is an arthropod transmitted viral disease of cattle and buffaloes.
- Among the cattle age group ranging from 6 months to2 years are more susceptible.
- The virus belonging to rhabdo virus group.
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| Mode of Transmission |
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- The disease is transmitted by sand fly.
- Mosquitoes like culex, culicoides have been suggested as a disease transmitter.
- Transmission does not occur by direct contact from animal to animal or via their discharges.
- Outbreak generally used to occur in summer season.
- The virus spread rapidly by wind and spread of the virus over three thousand miles within 5 months period has been reported.
- After infection the virus is found in the blood of cattle in about 5 days. The insects pick up the virus from the blood. Even 0.002 ml of blood may produce disease in susceptible hosts.
- The viruses never exist in the recovered animals and it is suggested that some fauna may be responsible for carryover of the virus from season to season.
- The disease can be transmitted by injection of whole blood.
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Clinical symptoms |
- The disease is preceded by a sharp rise of temperature ranging between 103-107˙F or more.
- There is shivering and muscle trembling.
- The affected cattle decline to move and if forced to move, they move with great difficulty with arched back condition.
- There is marked anorexia and appreciable reduction in milk yield.
- Salivation, nasal secretion and lacrymation are noticed.
- Muscle of the affected limb becomes stiff, hard and painful.
- The animal shows lameness to acute laminitis.
- Severely affected cattle may lie down with extended rigid hind limbs.
- Lameness may shift from one leg to other within few hours.
- The recumbent animals will also show suspended rumination, grinding of the teeth and signs of groaning.
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| Control measures |
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- Vector control is the important key to curb down this disease propagation.
- At present no commercial vaccine is available.
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