Rhinosporidiosis in bovines of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

A survey on rhinosporidiosis in animals was conducted in Kanyakumari (K.K.) district of Tamil Nadu, India. Among 103 animals (40 bullocks, 45 cows, 15 heifers, 2 bulls and a buffalo), 19 (9 bullocks, 8 cows, 1 heifer and a she-buffalo) were found to be infected with Rhinosporidium seeberi. The study revealed the endemic nature of the disease in bovines of K.K. district. Agastheeswaram taluk contributed 52.6 per cent of positive cases followed by Kalkulam (26.2 per cent). The disease was also found in exotic cattle (1 Holstein Friesien (HF) cow, 1 Swiss Brown cow and 1 HF heifer). The rest 16 were indigenous non-descript cattle. There was no sex variance as the cases were evenly distributed between both sexes. One of the infected animals was a she-buffalo. A case of recurrence of growth was observed in a bullock. Another bullock had concurrent infection of both rhinosporidiosis and nasal schistosomiasis. All the animals were adults and aged except the heifer. All were nose-roped. Cows were stall fed but bathed in ponds.