2
INCIDENCE OF SURRA IN RAJASTHAN
[Vo . XXVII, Part I,
Ajmer is a small State surrounded on all sides by Rajasthan with similar topo-
graphy and climate. The breeding places for tabanid flies are mostly big tanks,
as there are no canals. The average annual rainfall in the area is about 20 inches.
Livestock census for Ajmer State for 1952 shows 3,32,421 bovines, 1,530 horses,
4,659 donkeys and 1,781 camels. In Ajmer State camel breeding is not carried
out on such a large scale as in the south and south-western parts of Rajasthan.
INCIDENCE OF SURRA
Surra is the most important of camel diseases and the present investigation
has shown that its incidence is very high in Rajasthan. It is believed that since
the introduction of antrypol the disease has been under check. It usually runs a
chronic course among camels extending even to three years. It is locally called
'Thribursa'; it weakens the animal at every relapse and finally proves fatal.
Cases of surra reported from the different districts of Rajasthan in an average
year are given in Table II. The figures for the incidence of camel surra are available
for all the districts except Banswara and Dungarpur. The figures represent average.
of four years for each district. It is seen that on an average every year about 6,000
surra cases among camels are treated in the veterinary dispensaries of Rajasthan.
These figures are likely to be smaller than the actual number of cases, as many of
the cases receive private treatment and are not included in hospital records.
Besides, a large number is treated by the Rubbaires themselves as the drug antrypol
and its method of administration are well known to them [Progress Report of the
V. I. O., Rajasthan and Ajmer, Sankarnarayan, 1953-54]. Table II shows that
though surra is prevalent throughout Rajasthan it is a scourge more in the southern
districts. With its average number of 1,555 cases per year Pali has the greatest
incidence of camel surra with the adjoining district of Udaipur coming next. These
two districts have a number of tanks, lakes and canals with overhanging vegetation
offering excellent breeding places for tabanid flies. Having extensive jungles
and cultivation, these two districts afford good grazing and hence a large number
of camels are bred and kept in these areas. Bikaner which is a very dry area is
almost free from surra though it has a large camel population. Ganganagar which
is adjacent is, on the other hand, largely canal irrigated and shows a fair incidence
of surra. Seasonal variation. Table III shows the number of surra cases (in camels)
treated at the City Veterinary Hospital, Udaipur, during three years from 1951 to
1953, during different months. From this Table, as well as the previous one, it is
clear that the number of surra cases is on increase in the months following the
monsoon rains and that the climax is reached during September, October and
November when the fly breeding is also supposed to be at its zenith following heavy
dains in July and August (Graph 1). The incidence continues to be high during
rhe early part of the winter and gradually declines towards summer and is the lowest
turing April and May when the water sources are dried up and fly breeding completely
stops. Hospital records from Pali also show the incidence of surra, mostly in
camels, throughout the year excepting the hot months of April, May and June.
Cases are recorded even in extreme winter months of January and February.