Recently, around 70 cattle died in Odisha’s Kendrapada district, with veterinary officials attributing the cause to rumen fluke infection (locally called Kurmi). This topic is important for aspirants preparing through IAS coaching in Hyderabad, UPSC online coaching, and UPSC coaching in Hyderabad.
• Rumen flukes (amphistomes) are parasitic flatworms affecting ruminants worldwide.
• They use snails as intermediate hosts and spread through contaminated water or vegetation.
• The disease, known as paramphistomosis, is particularly severe in tropical and subtropical climates like India.
• Implication: Heavy losses in milk yield, animal productivity, and rural economy.
Transmission & Symptoms
Transmission
• Ingestion of vegetation or water contaminated with larval stages.
Symptoms
• Severe diarrhoea and dehydration.
• Rapid weight loss despite appetite.
• Swelling under the jaw (“bottle jaw”).
• Reduced milk yield and curdling.
• Loss of body mass and weakness.
Reactions & Management
Treatment
• Targeted anthelmintic drugs such as oxyclozanide and niclosamide.
Management Measures
• Proper pasture rotation and grazing control.
• Avoiding stagnant water sources.
• Regular deworming schedules for cattle.
• Veterinary authorities in Odisha have initiated awareness drives and preventive measures.
Significance
• Impacts livestock productivity and dairy economy.
• Affects livelihoods of rural farmers dependent on cattle rearing.
• Highlights the importance of veterinary healthcare and disease surveillance.
• Emphasises the need for scientific livestock management practices.
Students preparing through Hyderabad IAS coaching, IAS coaching, and civils coaching in Hyderabad should focus on livestock diseases, veterinary science, rural economy, and agricultural sustainability for UPSC preparation.
Conclusion
Rumen fluke disease is a serious parasitic threat to India’s livestock economy, requiring timely veterinary intervention, pasture management, and farmer awareness to prevent large scale economic and agricultural losses.
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