11.3.2: Scour in indoor cattle Flashcards
Causes of diarrhoea outbreaks in adult cattle
- Acidosis - seen at population level
- Coronavirus - can cause winter dysentery
- Mycotoxins - can be seen at herd
- Salmonella - always on the ddx list
True/false: Clostridia is a common cause of diarrhoea in adult cattle.
False
Clostridia tends to affect younger animals
True/false: coccidiosis is a common cause of diarrhoea in adult cattle.
False
Coccidiosis affects younger animals; doesn’t cause problems in adults.
True/false: BVD can cause outbreaks of diarrhoea at a herd level.
False
BVD doesnt really tend to cause diarrhoea except sometimes in PI animals - this is at individual rather than herd level.
Salmonella in cattle is
a) reportable
b) notifiable
a) reportable
Rinderpest in cattle is
a) reportable
b) notifiable
b) notifiable
Ddx for infectious diarrhoea in housed cattle
1
Ddx for infectious diarrhoea in housed cattle
2
Ddx for infectious diarrhoea in housed cattle
3
Ddx for infectious diarrhoea in housed cattle
4
Ddx for infectious diarrhoea in housed cattle
5
Ddx for infectious diarrhoea in housed cattle
6
Differentials for diarrhoea in pre-weaning calves
Any age - Clostridium species
Within 14 days old - rotatvirus, coronavirus, E. coli, Cryptosporidium parvum
From a few weeks old - Eimeria
What species of Clostridia cause diarrhoea and how would this present?
Clostridium pefrigens Types A, B, C and D
* Commensal of GIT and soil
* Proliferates if sudden diet change, usually increase in starch
* Pathophysiology: rapid bacteria overgrowth and enterotoxin release
* Clinical signs: death ± severe diarrhoea
* Pathology: haemorrhagic enteritis, gas filled (A), intestinal mucosal ulceration/ abomasal ulcers (B), diarrhoea in intestines, signs of peritonitis (C and D)
Who is susceptible to Eimeria? When does shedding occur?
3 weeks to 6 months calves
Shedding can occur lifelong in low numbers
Clinical signs of Eimeria (coccidiosis)
- Diarrhoea
- Poor DLWG
- Can get rectal prolapse due to persistent straining -> fix with epidural and purse string suture
Pathology of Eimeria
- Infection location: caecum, colon, terminal part of ileum
- Mucosa = congested, oedematous and thickened with haemorrhage; later on sloughed away
- Casts in faeces = sloughed mucosa
True/false: coccidiosis is a particular concern in beef and sheep, and co-grazing species can pass the infection between each other.
False
Eimeria is species-specific so infection cannot pass from cows to sheep and vv.
Which animals are particularly at risk for diarrhoea caused by Clostridium perfringens?
Tends to be more prevalent in beef and sheep
* Vaccination against clostridial diseases common in these e.g. Heptovac
True/false: animals can develop immunity to coccidiosis.
True
* Depends on the quality of oocysts, picked up during the primary infection
Diagnosis of coccidiosis
McMasters test
Treatment and prevention of coccidiosis
Treatment - supportive therapy
Prevention
Medical: oral drench - diclazuril, toltrazuril, decoquinate in feed (may not be considered AMR compliant)
Prevention: bedding management, stocking densities, group managements
Risk factors for coccidiosis
- High stocking densities
- Poor hygiene
- Mixed age groups
- Stress factors
- Wet and warm weather (calves turned out in poor weather will huddle and create high stocking densities)
- Mixing calf groups