Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (Pasteurella multocida) RT-PCR

Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), known in Hindi as galghotu, is a severe bacterial disease of cows and buffaloes. It is caused by certain types of Pasteurella multocida, a germ that some healthy animals carry in the nose and throat. Buffaloes are more likely to get HS than cows, and most outbreaks happen in the rainy season. Signs come on suddenly: high fever, dullness, drooling, a hot, painful swelling of the throat and neck, and noisy, difficult breathing. The disease moves very fast, and some animals are simply found dead.

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a lab method that finds a germ's genetic material, called DNA, by copying it many times. This test looks for Pasteurella multocida DNA. In a sick animal, the vet may take blood, as the germ spreads into the blood when the disease advances. Nasal swabs can help look for animals that carry the germ. From an animal that has died, a veterinarian takes tissue samples. Never cut open a dead animal yourself, because some causes of sudden death, such as anthrax, can infect people. Wear gloves when handling sick animals, wash your hands afterwards and see a doctor if you feel unwell.

Because HS moves so fast, call a vet at once if you see the signs, and never let treatment wait for a lab result. The test is most useful to confirm why animals fell ill or died, so your vet can plan care for the rest of the herd. If several animals fall ill or die suddenly, tell your veterinarian or the animal husbandry department. A registered veterinarian reads the result together with the signs, the herd's history, the season and any post-mortem findings.