4. Diseases of the intestines in ruminants Flashcards
Enteritis of ruminants non-infectious causes?
Enteritis of Ruminants- malabsorption/ maldigestion
• Sole or multifactorial causes
Non-infectious causes
- Abnormal ruminal content, chemicals
- Mouldy or rotten food
- Plants e.g., senecio, crotalaria species
- Milk, milk replacers, calf: ruminal drinker
Enteritis of ruminants infectious causes?
Infectious causes
• Viruses
o BVD, rota, adeno, coronavirus
• Bacterium
o E. coli, salmonella, clostridium perfringens D
• Parasites
o Eimeria, cryptosporidium parvum
• Fungi
o Candidiasis
Pathogenesis eliciting factors of diarrhoea?
Pathogenesis- eliciting factors of diarrhoea
- Osmotic effect
o Abnormal digestion + secretion- hyperosmosis
- Inflammation, necrosis (damage of the intestinal villi)
o Fluid secretion, exudate, (–) absorption
§ Malabsorption, maldigestion, protein loss
- Endo/exotoxins: dysfunction of the epithelial cells: abnormal
o Secretion/ absorption: fluid secretion
- Increased intestinal peristalsis
o By irritating substances, +++ parasympathetic effect, (–) absorption
- Later: intestinal paralysis
Clinical signs of enteritis?
Clinical signs
- Depression, fever, tachycardia, signs of dehydration, Kussmaul type dyspnoea
- Anorexia, increased thirst
- Diarrhoea
- Bubbling intestinal sounds, splashing can be provoked
- Metallic sound (auscultation with percussion)
Diagnosis of enteritis?
Diagnosis
- Epidemiological situation
- Symptomatic, etiological diagnosis
- Additional laboratory exams
Treatment and control of enteritis?
Treatment and control
• Elimination of the cause
o Change of feed, drugs against infections
• Fluid, electrolyte and energy replacement, correction of acidosis
o Ringer, glucose infusions (IV, IP, IO)
o Per os applicated combined drugs for rehydration, camomile tea
• Treatment of malabsorption/ maldigestion and paralysis
o Charcoal, protectants: kaolin, pectin
• Treatment of fever/ pain/ spasm
o Metamizole, scopolamine
• Supporting of general resistance
o A and D vitamins, trace elements
Paratuberculosis?
Paratuberculosis- Mycobacterium avium ssp paratuberculosis
- Cattle: older animal of 3-5 years, +/- epidemic
- Sheep/goat
Clinical signs of paratuberculosis?
Clinical signs
- Chronic weight loss, weakness
- Increased appetite and thirst
- Dehydrated skin, oedema
- Pale MM
- Yellowish-green diarrhoea
- Lab exam
o Hypoproteinaemia
Diagnosis of paratuberculosis?
Diagnosis
- Typical history and clinical signs
- Faeces (or scraping of the rectum)
o Ziehl-Neelson positive
• Further lab exams
o Bacterial culture
o Serological test
Treatment and control of paratuberculosis?
Treatment and control
- Symptomatic therapy
- Eradication
o Difficult
• Send to slaughter immediately
Caecal dilation and torsion in cattle?
Caecal dilatation and torsion in cattle
• Around calving, in high-yielding cows
Etiology and pathogenesis
• Increased grain intake leads to increased VFA production resulting in decreased pH and increased butyric
acid.
- This causes caecal atony, there is also dyspepsia and fermentation.
- Together this leads to dilatation (fluid + gas), then dislocation, torsion and finally ischemia (insufficient blood
supply to an organ or tissue)
clinical signs of caecal dilation?
Clinical signs
- Depression and/or colic
- Anorexia, rapid cease of milk production, dehydration, shock
- Faeces: greenish-black, pasty-creamy
- Ruminal stasis
- Distended right flank (sausage like balloon)
Diagnosis, DD, treatment of caecal dilation and torsion?
Diagnosis
• Based on the target examination of the caecum
Differential diagnosis
• RDA
o Localisation, rectal finding, laparotomy
Treatment
• Caecal dilatation
o Diet (hay), laxatives (mineral oil), + parasympaticomimetic (neostigmine, bethanechol)
• Caecal torsion
o Laparotomy + fluid and electrolyte replacement
Small intestinal ileus
• Very rare
