Anaemia and transfusion in cattle

Question 1

What are normal PCV values in cows?

Answer 1

> 24%

Question 2

What are common haemorrhage conditions in cows?

Answer 2

• epistaxis with caudal caval syndrome
• rupture iddle uterine artery
• trauma to udder and mammary vasculature

Question 3

Why is blood transfusion in cattle easy?

Answer 3

1. no need for cross matching before transfusions
2. generally easy to find a donor
3. possible to take 8-10 L blood per donor with no ill effect
4. no expensive equipment required

Question 4

How are haemoparasites diagnosed?

Answer 4

giemsa stained smears

pathogen specific PCR or qPCR on blood samples for diagnosis

Question 5

Name some species that cause anaemia

Answer 5

fleas- calves, warm humid housing
haemaphysalis longicornis
rhipicephalus microplus
haematobia irritans and HI exigua

Question 6

What is the main tick and the disease it can carry in Europe that causes anaemia?

Answer 6

ixodes ricinus

babesia divergens, anaplasma phagocytophilium and louping III

Question 7

What tick can spread babesia spp and anaplasma marginale and is present in Europe?

Answer 7

dermacentor reticulatus

Question 8

Describe ixodes ricinus

Answer 8

deer tick, sheep tick
3 host tick with 3 yr lifecycle
hosts= larvae on small animals, irds
total time on host= 1 month

Question 9

Describe rhicephalus microplus

Answer 9

The most important species globally
1 host tick
18 – 35 days on single host
Range of total LC 42 – 300 days
Three to five generations per year
Hosts include cattle, horses, small ruminants

Question 10

What is the most effective treatment for babesia infection?

Answer 10

imidocarb dipropionate

Question 11

What are clinical signs of trypanosomosis?

Answer 11

• anaemia
• ill thrift
• pyrexia
• haemorrhagic syndrome

Question 12

Describe the control of tsetse and trypanosomes

Answer 12

habitat destruction
aerial spraying
insecticide and drug treatment of cattle

Question 13

Describe enzootic haematuria

Answer 13

low moribidity
seen in older cattle
digestive tract tumours
clinical findings= gradual loss of condition, palpable thickening of bladder wall

Question 14

Describe acute bracken fern poisoning

Answer 14

low morbidity
clinical findings- inappetance, pyrexia, depression, blood in faeces
PM findings= haemorrhage in all tissues

Question 15

What are some toxic causes of anaemia in cattle?

Answer 15

bracken
Pb
Cu
NSAIDS

Question 16

What are some nutritional deficiency causes of anaemia in cattle?

Answer 16

Co and Cu

Question 17

What are some common infectious causes of anaemia in cattle?

Answer 17

babesia, fasciola, haemaphysallis, mycoplasma, theilleria, anaplasma