The Department of Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences will conduct a survey of prevalence of brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes in Dakshina Kannada with assistance from personnel of milk cooperatives from Monday.
Deputy Director of Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Halagappa told The Hindu said infectious brucellosis led to miscarriage and decrease of milk yield among bovines. This disease led to physical incapacity among people infected by the disease caused by Brucella abortus bacteria. The survey would help take steps to combat the disease under the National Control of Programme on Brucellosis.
Dr. Halagappa was presiding over a technical workshop on brucellosis for veterinarians on Friday. The workshop was held on the premises of Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union.
Dr. Halagappa said tests for detection of brucellosis in bovines were being conducted in large cattle farms. Tests were done to detect infection among doctors and personnel working in veterinary hospitals. This was the first time that a field-level survey was being done. As many as 55 personnel from the department and personnel from milk cooperatives would be involved in the exercise.
During the survey, milk samples would be collected and a milk ring test performed to check the presence of bacteria. Milk procured by 343 milk cooperative societies and milk distributed by private vendors would be tested.
