Journal of Animal Health and Production

Research Article
J. Anim. Health Prod. 5(2): 79-84
Http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2017/5.2.79.84
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Abdul Sattar Mari1,2, Asghar Ali Kamboh1*, Khaliq-ur-rehman Bhutto2, Irfan Ali Sahito2, Shahid Hussain Abro1

1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, 70060 Tandojam, Pakistan; 2Livestock and Fisheries Department, Government of Sindh, Pakistan.

Abstract | Anthrax is an ignored zoonotic disease of all livestock animals that is prevailing in developing countries. The etiological agent of anthrax is a rod-shaped bacteria named Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) which is spread by endospores that could remain viable in the environment for decades. The current study investigated the prevalence of B. anthracis spores in soil of district Badin in relation to soil characteristics. A total of 100 samples were collected from different talukas (20 from each taluka) such as Golarchi, Tando Bago, Talhar, Badin and Matli of district Badin. Soil samples were randomly collected from areas those were selected based on suspected carcass disposal or burial sites, comparatively low-lying area and livestock pasturing sites. An overall prevalence of 20% in soil samples of district Badin were recorded. The highest prevalence of B. anthracis spores was recorded in soil samples of Talhar, Golarchi and Tando Bago (25%), that followed by Badin (15%), and Matli (10%). Among 100 soil samples, 46 were found as silty loam type, 44 silty clay loam type, while remaining 10 were recorded as clay loam type. The highest prevalence of anthrax spores were observed in clay loam type soil (70%), that followed by silty clay loam (18.18%) and silty loam type soil (10.86%). The chemical properties of soil samples of district Badin were also recorded during the current study and results showed an overall of 4.21, 8.47, 0.54 and 7.04 as EC (electrical conductivity) (dS/m), pH, organic matter (OM%) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3%) respectively. The correlation among chemical properties of soil samples and prevalence of B. anthracis were also evaluated. The results indicated a positive correlation between OM% and prevalence of B. anthracis (0.0276) and calcium contents of soil and prevalence of B. anthracis (0.1775). While, a negative correlation was observed among soil pH and prevalence of B. anthracis and EC and prevalence of B. anthracis. These results indicated that soil of all areas of district Badin are heavily contaminated by B. anthracis spores. The findings of current study suggested a realistic implementation plan for the prevention/control of anthrax in all areas of
district Badin, Sindh.

Keywords | Anthrax, Bacillus anthracis; Badin, Chemical properties, Physical properties, Soil