FACTORS AFFECTING PREVALENCE OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS IN NILI RAVI BUFFALOES

A study was conducted to find out the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (btb) in nili ravi buffaloes at a livestock experimental station in the punjab, pakistan. on the basis of the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (cidt), prevalence of btb was found to be 10.06%. epidemiological factors including old age, high milk production and parity played a significant role in the prevalence of the disease. significantly (p<0.028) higher percentage of positive reactors was found in buffaloes aged 8 years and above (68.75%). a significantly (p<0.043) higher number of cidt positive animals had parities 3-6 (68.75%) and those with milk production >7 litres per day (75.00%). a total of nine out of 16 (56.25%) animals were found positive by mycobacteriological studies. mycobacterium bovis was isolated from four (44.44%) milk samples, m. tuberculosis from one faecal and two milk samples (33.33%), while atypical mycobacteria were isolated from two (22.22%) milk samples. it can be concluded from the present study that btb is present in indigenous buffaloes; old age and high milk yield greatly influence its prevalence. m. bovis was the principal cause of tuberculosis in buffaloes. furthermore, atypical mycobacteria also contribute to btb to a considerable proportion.