DA12 keeps an eye on “Pinkeye disease”

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- A disease that inflicts livestock is on the rise.

The Department of Agriculture XII is keeping an eye on “Pinkeye Disease” that has infested livestock farm in Sto. Nino, South Cotabato since last week.

Dr. Lorna Lamorena, head of South Cotabato Provincial Veterinary Office said there were about “64 heads of goats out of the 130 heads stock in one of the livestock farms in Sto. Nino which were affected by the disease.”

Initial study by DA here pointed to “Pinkeye Disease" or medically-termed as Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis based on the physical manifestation and signs detected.”

Pinkeye can be the result of infectious or non-infectious organisms. A serious illness to goat, Pinkeye disease in goats may be caused by several different agents, according to Lamorena.

Research also said “Pinkeye can be brought about by stress. Stress from moving, transporting the goat, stress resulting from improper nutrition, stress caused by severe weather or dramatic weather changes, or stress arising from an underlying illness (abortion, pneumonia).”

In a press release issued to PIA, DA-12 Regional Executive Director Amalia Datukan said a team composed of the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) based here “conducted an inspection on February 4 and February 11 in the affected area and got samples for laboratory analysis.”

Dr. Jennifer Bulawan, RADDL head revealed the “tests conducted included both bacterial and fungal isolations.”

The test, according to her found “Mycoplasma specie or Phlamedia” which is the “causative agent of Pinkeye Disease.”

Bulawan said her findings were already forwarded to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for further examination and final diagnosis.

At present, the local governments of South Cotabato and Sto. Nino as well as DA-12 are monitoring and giving close supervision to the owners of affected farm.

DA12 has also recommended the use of antibiotics as treatment pending the result from BAI.

Datukan rationalized that there could be a “high chance of recovery since goats are positively responding to the treatment.”

The incident has already caused alarm among goat raisers in the region.

But Animal Quarantine chief Dr. Castor Leo Ejercito told goat raisers not “to worry about the disease since it is an ordinary disease and is self-limiting.” (PIA General Santos City with reports from DA 12) / By CT Apelacio

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