VARIATION OF SERUM INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS AND ASSOCIATION WITH HEMOGLOBINURIA AND OSTEOMALACIA IN FEMALE WATER-BUFFALOS IN PAKISTAN

Data from an animal health service in the Punjab of Pakistan showed th at 39 adult female buffaloes with haemoglobinuria were 21 times more l ikely to have serum inorganic phosphorus (serum P) levels < 0.97 mmol/ l than 24 controls sampled during the period of case occurrence (Decem ber 1984-March 1985). Age > 7 years or early lactation (1-60 days post partum) were unrelated to the disease. Similarly, symptoms of osteoma lacia in 19 multiparous buffaloes were associated with low P (OR = 14. 3) but not with age. Subsequently, a serum survey was carried out from February 1985 to July 1987 to investigate serum P variations with sea son and host factors. Data from 139 farms (426 adult female buffaloes, 468 lactations) indicated strong farm and seasonal effects on serum P . Serum P declined during the study period and was lowest during Decem ber-March 1985/1986 and again 1986/1987. Calving season, parity > 1, h igh pregnancy > 6 months, or daily milk production were not related to serum P in the final model. Seasonal effects were interpreted as soil borne and related to feed changes from maize to berseem in December. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.