Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine Veterinary College, Nandinagar, Bidar-585 401, India.
*Part of M.V.Sc. thesis submitted by first author to the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar.
During the period of nine years (January, 1995 to December, 2003) the influence of meteorological parameters on the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in cattle, buffaloes and bovines (cattle and buffaloes together) of Karnataka were analyzed. The results of the retrospective study indicated that the minimum temperature with buffaloes and bovines; and rainfall with cattle, buffaloes and bovines, were negatively correlated with outbreaks. Further analysis of data into various subgroups indicated significantly (P0.01) higher outbreaks in up to 100 mm rainfall range areas along with this comparatively higher outbreaks were recorded in maximum temperature of 27.1–31.0°C, minimum temperature of 17.6–21.5°C and morning humidity of 79.1–92.0%. Probably these factors may be acting as predisposing factors responsible for the occurrence of FMD in Karnataka state.
