22.5.3 The down cow

Question 1

Disease caused by C. perfringens Type A

Answer 1

Gas gangrene and haemorrhagic enteritits

gAs

Question 2

Disease caused by C. perfringens Type B

Answer 2

LamB Dysentery

Question 3

Disease caused by C. perfringens Type C

Answer 3

StruCk (sudden death)

Question 4

Disease caused by C. perfringens Type D

Answer 4

Pulpy kiDney

Question 5

Disease caused by C. chauvoei

Answer 5

Blackleg

Chauffeurs wear black trousers

Question 6

Disease caused by C. novyi

Answer 6

Black disease

novyi = noir = black

Question 7

Disease caused by C. septicum

Answer 7

Braxy

(sepsis?)

Question 8

Disease caused by C. tetani

Answer 8

Tetanus

Question 9

Disease caused by C. sordelli

Answer 9

Gas gangrene

Question 10

Which of the following clostridia cause enterotoxaemia?
* C. perfringens Type A
* C. perfringens Type B
* C. perfringens Type C
* C. perfringens Type D
* C. chauvoei
* C. novyi
* C. septicum
* C. tetani
* C. sordelli

Answer 10

C. perfringens Type A-D

Question 11

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from 1 week to 1 year +?

Answer 11

Pasteurella pneumonia

Question 12

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from >6 months to 1 year +?

Answer 12

Pasteurella septicaemia

Question 13

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from birth to 3 weeks?

Answer 13

Lamb dysentery (type B)

Question 14

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from 3 to 12 weeks?

Answer 14

Pulpy kidney (type D)

Question 15

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from around 4 to 8 months?

Answer 15

Pulpy kidney (again?)

Question 16

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from around 1 year onwards?

Answer 16

Struck (type C)

Question 17

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from 6 months onwards?

Answer 17

Braxy (sepsis?)

Question 18

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from 8 months onwards?

Answer 18

Black disease (c. novyi)

Question 19

Which clostridia/pasteurella can stretch from birth to whenever?

Answer 19

Blackleg (c. chauvoei) and tetanus (c. tetani)

Question 20

Describe the causative agent of tetanus and how it infects the animal

Answer 20

• Causative agent: Clostridium tetani
• Found in the environment (soil) and enters body through puncture wounds, castration site infection etc.

Question 21

Clinical signs of tetanus and how the disease progresses

Answer 21

• First sign often = elevated tail head
• Animals stand with legs abducted (‘sawhorse’ stance)
• Anxious expression: eyes may bulge, ears held back, nostrils flared
• Later on in disease: lockjaw and inability to eructate may lead to moderate bloat
• Recumbency
• Spontaneous seizures
• Death from respiratory failure

Question 22

Calf in lateral with head stretched back - what does this suggest?

Answer 22

• Recumbency with opisthotonus and rigid limbs
• This calf has tetanus

Question 23

Calf mentioned before is just having a nap! Should we shout loudly to wake it up? :)

Answer 23

Don’t be silly! This calf has tetanus and sudden loud noises or other stimuli can cause spontaneous seizures. Block the ears with cotton wool, cover the eyes, and don’t make a peep <3