Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak at Bageshwori Gaushala, Chitwan, Nepal

Cow being the national animal of Nepal has special place in the society. Religious institutions have since prehistoric time reared and cared for cattle herds and the tradition still continues. The Bageshwori Gaushala (cow shelter), initiated by the Hindu Rastraguru Yogi Narhaharinath in mid-1990s is one of the largest of such nucleus indigenous cattle herds in Nepal. Indigenous cattle conservation strategy of Nepal has recognized the importance of this nucleus herd, kept by grazing in the surrounding forest. Ethnoveterinary approaches of managing the herd health is in practice and vaccination was never done. Occasional outbreak did happen in past but overall the herd never suffered severe impact. In April 2018, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) occurred at Bageshwori, Gaushala, Devghat, Bharatpur Metropolitan-1, Chitwan district of Nepal. In the bovine herd studied, 80 (53.33%) out of 150 affected animals presented characteristics FMD symptoms as vesicular lesions, drooling salivation, foot lameness, high fever and weakness. Following prompt supportive treatment, the condition improved. The complete recovery of infected herd was observed after 45 d. Laboratory analysis showed the presence of Aphthovirus serotype O in the clinical sample. The present study attempts to provide fresh insights into the recent FMD outbreak, clinical signs, their effective treatment protocol and preventive measures that must be practiced following FMD outbreak.