SKHB IPB University Professor Initiates Networking with Melbourne University in Eradicating the PMK Outbreak
The outbreak of foot and mouth disease (PMK) which broke out again in 2022 has been proven to have reduced the productivity and population of cattle and buffalo in Indonesia. This PMK outbreak has certainly created new difficulties for managing strategic animal diseases in Indonesia.
In fact, since 1990, Indonesia has been declared free of PMK, so that for more than 22 years Indonesia has been one of the few countries that is free of PMK.
During a series of visits to Melbourne, Prof Bambang Purwantara, Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (SKHB) IPB University held meetings and initiated partnership opportunities with Prof Mark Stevenson from the Asia Pacific Center for Animal Health (APCAH) based at Melbourne University.
Prof Stevenson is the lead researcher who leads the APCAH team to assist Indonesia in eradicating PMK. Through collaboration with Epivets New Zealand, APCAH has assisted the Directorate of Animal Health, Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia in developing a PMK simulation model in determining implementation strategies for eradicating PMK in Indonesia.
Currently, the Directorate of Animal Health has a system for collecting and evaluating data collected from animal health workers in the field through the National Animal Health Information System (iSHIKNAS). The APCAH and Epivets teams used the PMK case in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) as a model that could later be used nationally.
During the visit, Prof Bambang said that the excesses of the PMK outbreak had reduced milk production, reduced weight gain, and hampered calf growth. In fact, this outbreak also drastically reduced the population of cow and buffalo, due to death and forced slaughter.
In the field of reproduction, PMK has been proven to reduce the fertility of cows and buffalo. “Excess PMK in the field has reduced the fertility of cows and female buffalo in the form of delays in returning to heat after calving, failure of fertilization and implantation and miscarriages,” said Prof Bambang.
Prof Stevenson welcomed the initiative to conduct further studies regarding PMK excesses, including reproductive aspects.
“Through the initiation of the project that we are working on in NTB, we can develop it not only as a strategy to eradicate PMK but also to expand the scope including the excesses of PMK, especially in the field of reproduction,” said Prof Sevenson.
The visit also opened up opportunities for the involvement of SKHB IPB University in various activities coordinated by APCAH and the Veterinary School, Melbourne University in the field of animal health nationally and regionally. (*/Rz) (IAAS/HNJ)
