Acute Diarrhea Flashcards
What are the common ddx’s for acute diarrhea in adult cattle?
Salmonellosis, BVD, BCoV, Coccidiosis, Nematodiasis
what are the C/S of Salmonellosis? what age?
any age
pyrexia
diarrhea (watery to mucoid, may contain blood or fibrin)
endotoxemia and bacteria may result in systemic signs
abortion
septicemia in calves
S. Dublin causes pneumonia in calves
how do you diagnose Salmonellosis?
ID organism (aerobic culture of feces)
- intermittent shedding, so repeated samples
- ELISA for S. Dublin antibodies available
how do you tx Salmonellosis?
Fluids + NSAIDs
- if severe dehydration, no NSAIDs until rehydrated
antibiotics: pros and cons, use if bacteremia, septicemia more likely in calves (TMPS often recommended)
how do you manage salmonellosis?
good hygiene
- don’t house sick and dry cows together
- limit calf exposure to adult feces
- reduce manure exposure
- disinfection
vax available: may reduce severity
maintain good health
what are the C/S of winter dysentery? what age/signalment?
decreased appetite, bloody diarrhea, pyrexia, reduced milk production
adult dairy cows housed together (common in winter)
how do you dx winter dysentery?
PCR of feces
Antibody ELISA available
how do you tx winter dysentery?
no specific anti-viral tx
supportive therapy as needed (fluids)
may consider antibiotics in severely affected
how do you manage winter dysentery?
often too late to stop outbreak - but it passes in a few days
significant production loss may persist
What are the C/S of Coccidiosis? what age?
usually younger cattle (2mo)
- prepatent period = 15-20 days –> so if neonate d+, then NOT coccidia
LI diarrhea, varying severity (straining, fresh blood, mucus)
poor growth rates
nervous coccidiosis –> opisthotonus, nystagmus, seizures
how do you dx coccidiosis?
detection of oocysts in feces (fecal float may help)
speciation recommended to confirm pathogenic (low numbers of pathogenic more significant than high numbers of non-pathogenic)
how do you tx coccidiosis?
primarily supportive (fluids)
therapeutic use of coccidiostats/cides may reduce shedding, but often too late once diagnosed
how do you manage coccidiosis?
low dose exposure develops immunity, high dose = dz
control by reducing exposure while maximizing immunity
coccidiostats (and some coccidiocides) –> frequently added to feed, fed for min. 28 days, delay development (not eliminate it) so dose still important
what are the C/S of nematodiasis? what signalment?
diarrhea and weight loss/poor gain
young grazing animals
how do you dx BVD? general
Antigen (virus) or antibody (immunity) tests
Antigen tests: virus isolation from blood, IHC on ear notch, Ag ELISA, PCR from pooled blood or bulk milk
antibody tests: virus neutralization, blood ELISA
how do you manage BVD?
ID herd status (screen young, bulk milk, routine tagging of calves)
if confirmed, then PI hunt
- all PIs, whether healthy or not, should be removed from the herd
if naive herd, then strict biosecurity and consider vax
following/during outbreak
- ID and remove all PIs, vax to reduce losses and PI creation, continue screening
vaccinate before first breeding
What is the etiology of salmonellosis in cattle?
Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovars: Typhimurium, Dublin (cow-adapted strain), Newport
is salmonellosis zoonotic?
yes! some strains are (Typhimurium, Newport)
how is salmonellosis transmitted?
fecal-oral
primarily cow to cow (carrier state possible)
transition/fresh cows most at risk (immunosuppression)
birds, rodents, and bought in feed also possible risks