Dr.Jibachha Sah (M.V.Sc) Veterinary Hospital research &training Center(P)Ltd Bharatpur-5,Lanku,Naryanagarh,Chitwan,Nepal

1. A CHALLENGE OF VETERINARY
PRACTITIONER FROM DEGNALA
DISEASE
Dr.Jibachha Sah
M.V.SC (T.U.)
VHRTC(P)LTD

2. Introduction
 Degnala disease, which is believed to be a
mycotoxicosis, has clinical syndrome
similar to chronic ergotism and is
characterised by development of oedema,
necrosis and gangrene of the legs, tail,
ears, etc.

3. Etiology
 The most frequently found fungi species
recorded from rice straw were: Aspergillus,
Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium notatum.

4. Species affected
 Buffaloes are more frequently affected than
cattle and younger animals appear to be
more susceptible.

5. Epizootical
 Epizootiological studies were made on disease
outbreaks involving 370 herds from 136
villages of Haryana, India, during the years
1968 to 1978.
 They revealed that the disease, besides being
seasonal and regional in occurrence, has a
tendency to confine itself to a particular herd
or field.
 All the disease outbreaks occurred during the
winter and were associated with the feeding of
rice straw.

6. Prevalence in Nepal
The outbreaks of Deg Nala disease occurring
during 1998 through 1999 were recorded in 5
villages of Bankatwa, Mahadev puri, Bethani,
KhajuraKhurda Manokapur Village
development committee of Banke district of
Midwestern Nepal .

7. Factor associated with
disease
 Factors such as housing conditions of
animals, shape of rice straw stacks, feeding
practices, and use of pesticides and fertilizers
had no bearing on the occurrence of the
disease.
 Inadequate postharvest drying of rice plants
before stacking and stacking at low-lying
places or near water channels were the
factors identified with occurrence of the
disease.

8. Morbidity and mortality
 The morbidity and mortality rates were
61.61% and 13.93%, respectively, in
buffaloes and 13.49% and 2.41% in cattle,
with no sex and age differences.

9. Symptoms
 Severe cases lingered for 1 to 2 months, but
in others the wounds healed within a few
weeks.The diseased animals were invariably
weak. Ulcerative wounds and gangrene
developed on the limbs and other dependent
parts of the body. Almost all cases showed
gangrene of the tail, which was shrivelled and
cold to the touch. Invariably, one or both ears
showed signs of dry gangrene.

10. In some cases the muzzle and even the tip of the tongue
became gangrenous and was shed. One or more hooves
showed lesions in varying stages of development. In some
cases the affected feet and legs were swollen up to the knee;
hair was denuded and inflammatory changes set in. Later,
wounds appeared on the coronet, fetlock, pastern, knee and in
the hock region.
In very advanced cases the lower regions of the feet become
gangrenous. In some cases the hooves were shed and bones
were exposed. The gangrenous portions of the tail, tips of the
ears, tongue and other affected parts of the body, dropped off,
although wounds healed in the course of time.

11.  Secondary bacterial infections of the lesions
were at least partially responsible for the
severity of the disease.To address this
complicating factor, long-actingTerramycin
was injected parenterally.
 Moreover simultaneous use of antifungal
(Diethylamine acetarsol, Acetylarson,
Antidegnala liquior) induced development of
immunity and was proven to be effective
against infection.

12. Tail gangrene

13. Initially foot lesion may
seen

14. Foot lesion

15. Depression and unable to
stand

16. Tail gangrene dryness of
skin

17. Unable to stand due to foot
lesion

18. After treatment improvement
in tail gangrene

19. Foot lesion improved after
treatment with Degamin
powder

20. Improved after treatment of tail
lesion with Deganeg ointment

21. Emaciation ,decrease milk
yield are characteristic
symptoms initially.

22. Tail gangrene in severe
condition

23. Tail gangrene in severe condition

24. Treatment
 A penta-sulphate mixture) at the rate of 60 g
(1st day) orally, followed by 30 g daily for 10
days with a sufficient quantity of linseed and
molasses.
 The lesions were washed with lukewarm
water and dressed with nitroglycerin 2%
ointment.