Status of Animal Health with Emphasis of Blue Tongue Virus Disease in Kalat Region, Balochistan

Abstract

Bluetongue is non contagious vector borne viral disease of small ruminants. It transmits by biting of culicoids midges and causes severe economic losses to animal owner in term of high morbidity, decreased production and impaired reproduction. Balochistan, being largest province of the country have scattered population in far remote areas. About 70% of the provincial population rely upon livestock rearing for their livelihood. Kalat is largest division of the province that stretches from Kalat city upto Lasbella including Khuzdar, Kharan and Awaran. It is located on main RCD route that will ultimately boost the animal marketing and their easy access to main market. Although different vaccines are practiced throughout the province but no such vaccine is available against BTV in the country. That’s why animals are facing problems of some undiagnosed diseases. This review provides necessary information about disease in the region. It is need of the time to educate farmer and strict vigilance may be practiced for proper and timely vaccination of all animals to curtail deadliest diseases in the region.