Black quarter Kills 23 Cow and Infects 63 Others In Katsina.

23 cows have been killed by black quarter disease while 63 others have been infected in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State. In a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the disease was isolated on Aug. 5, 2016 when veterinary officers from the state and local council moved in to curb the outbreak. The council’s Director of Agriculture, Alhaji Aliyu Lawal-Doro, confirmed that the affected cows were from Kaduna State moving to neighboring Charanchi Local Government in the state. The official, who spoke through the council’s spokesman, Malam Shuaibu Sa’idu, said when the council officials noticed the high number of deaths, they immediately notified the state veterinary services for urgent intervention. The state government deployed experts to the area to contain the situation, which is now stable. He has however said that veterinary officials and herdsmen in the area have been put on high alert, to avert further outbreak. The official added that the local council was educating livestock owners on the symptoms of the disease, for them to remain vigilant and report cases. The name black quarter or black ill stems from the fact that the infected animal has blackened and swollen hind limb. The infection is acute ,it has a short course of between 12-24 hours and very common in well muscled animals. The vaccination of animals is the best option to prevent loss of prized animals. Black quarter caused by the bacteria Clostridium Chauvoei ,these are present in soils from where they are picked by animals through ingestion of contaminated feeds or soils especially during dry weather when animals graze close to the ground or following soil excavations on the farm. The bacterial spores can remain in the soil for a long period of time,thus in confirmed cases the carcass is not opened but buried deep in the earth to prevent further contamination of environment.The bacteria reside in the intestinal tract and muscles of animals and under suitable conditions they turn around and increase in number and produce poisons that cause the disease Black quarter disease is characterized by a sharp increase in body temperature and very painful localized muscle swelling. The skin around the hip, shoulder, neck and back muscles, will be discolored and when touched produces crackling /sandpaper sound . The animal normally have tremors and will drop,the affected animals in most cases are found dead without any history of sickness. Farmers /herdsmen that are always around their animals can easily observe clinical signs of black quarter and start treatment as the bacteria responds to penicillin.