Approach to skin conditions of production animal

Question 1

What are the clinical signs of mites?

Answer 1

• Pruritus, Loss of fleece
• Multiple animals affected

Question 2

How would you diagnose mites in sheep?

Answer 2

• Skin scrapes and microscopy
• Serology for AB sheep scab

Question 3

How would you treat mites?

Answer 3

(even unaffected animals)
Injectable – macrocyclic lactones (e.g. doramectin) – difficult for Chorioptes!
Sheep- Plunge dipping in organophosphates (although environmentally
hazardous)

Question 4

What are the clinical signs of mites

Answer 4

• Pruritus, loss of hair
• Pustular, crusted, scaly skin
• multiple animals are affected

Question 5

How would you diagnose mites in cattle?

Answer 5

Skin scrapes and microscopy

Question 6

How would you treat mites in cattle?

Answer 6

Pour-on Permethrin, Macrocyclic lactones (e.g. Ivermectin, eprinomectin)
Injectable – macrocyclic lactones (less effective for Chorioptes)
Move animals to “clean” housing (no animals for 3 weeks)

Question 7

What are the clinical signs of lice cattle?

Answer 7

Pruritus and loss of hair
Rough skin > bruises > wounds > sec. infection
Anemia

Question 8

How would you diagnose lice in cattle?

Answer 8

Visible parasites on skin surface
Skin scrapes and microscopy

Question 9

How would you treat lice in cattle?

Answer 9

Pour-on/Spot-on pyrethroids (e.g. Deltamethrin) or
macrocyclic lactones
Injectable macrocyclic lactones will target sucking
lice only (less effective)
Repeat tx? Eggs!

Question 10

How would you prevent lice in cattle?

Answer 10

Routine anti-ectoparasite treatments? Resistance?
Biosecurity (same as mites)

Question 11

What are the clinical signs of foot and mouth disease?

Answer 11

Immediate movement restrictions
Strict biosecurity
Cull whole herd/flock
Vaccination possible in endemic countries

Question 12

What are the clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis?

Answer 12

• Hypersalivation
• Similiar in appearance to FMD
• Vesicles, Ulcers, erosions

Question 13

What are the clinical signs of bluetongue?

Answer 13

Oedema muzzle, tongue and coronary bands
Crusted muzzle
Sialorrhea and nasal discharge
Skin erythema

Question 14

How would you diagnose bluetongue?

Answer 14

• Virus Isolation
• Serology
• PME

Question 15

How would you treat mites in cattle?

Answer 15

Pour-on Permethrin, Macrocyclic lactones (e.g. Ivermectin, eprinomectin)
Injectable – macrocyclic lactones (less effective for Chorioptes)
Move animals to “clean” housing (no animals for 3 weeks)

Question 16

How would you prevent mites in cattle?

Answer 16

Biosecurity – closed herd, quarantine treatments, fencing

Question 17

What are the clinical signs of lice in cattle?

Answer 17

Pruritus and loss of hair
Rough skin > bruises > wounds > sec. infection
Anemia

Question 18

How would you diagnose lice in cattle?

Answer 18

Visible parasites on skin surface
Skin scrapes and microscopy

Question 19

What is the issue with injectable macrocyclic lactones?

Answer 19

Only target sucking lice and therefore are less effective

Question 20

What happens when you rest a warm hand on an animal for a minute or so?

Answer 20

Encourages lice to to move to the surface where they can be easily observed

Question 21

What are the clinical signs of bovicola ovis?

Answer 21

Pruritus and loss of fleece/damage to hide
‘cockle’ hide – nodular skin defect due to immune response

Question 22

How might you diagnose bovicola ovis?

Answer 22

Visible parasites on skin surface
Skin scrapes and microscopy

Question 23

What is the treatment for bovicola ovis?

Answer 23

Pour-on/Spot-on pyrethroids – less effective in full fleeced sheep
Plunge dipping in organophosphates (although environmentally hazardous)

Question 24

What are the clinical signs of blowfly strike?

Answer 24

Isolation from the flock, disturbed grazing
Discoloured wool
Agitation and kicking or nibbling at the affected area
Maggots
Pustular, foul smelling pyoderma – secondary bacterial infection
Typically affects the perineum, flank, or between the digits (associated with foot rot)
Pyrexia
Toxaemia
Recumbency and Death

Question 25

How might you diagnose blowfly strike?

Answer 25

Clinical signs History (not been sheared, faecal staining due to endoparasites)

Question 26

How might you be able to prevent blowfly strike?

Answer 26

Severe welfare concern Client education – importance of shearing Fly treatment – Pour-on/Spot-on pyrethroids every 4-8 weeks during the grazing season (persistence of action?) Endoparasite control to reduce diarrhoea Address wounds and lameness

Question 27

What are the clinical signs of a warble fly bite?

Answer 27

3mm soft painful swellings on the back of the animal

Question 28

What are the clinical signs of different tick species?

Answer 28

Swelling over tick bites Vector for secondary diseases: Babesia “redwater” – anaemia, haemaglobinuria Theileria – anaemia, haemagolbinuria Anaplasma – pyrexia, anaemia, abortion Lyme disease – milk drop, swollen joints, pyrexia Louping ill – neurological signs, pyrexia

Question 29

How might you prevent ticks?

Answer 29

Avoid grazing pastures with known tick burdens Improve pastures (long term) Anti-parasitic spot-ons

Question 30

What are the clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis?

Answer 30

Hypersalivation Similar in appearance to FMD but only affecting mouth and sometimes teats Vesicles, ulcers, erosions, crusting

Question 31

What are the clinical signs of mucousal disease?

Answer 31

Ulcerated, erythematous lesions over mucosal surfaces Diarrhoea Usually in a poor doing animal Known BVD infected herd/unknown status

Question 32

What are the clinical signs of malignant catarrhal fever?

Answer 32

Extreme pyrexia (40.5-42.0⁰C) Depression, inappetence Painful crusting over the muzzle Similar appearance to BVD mucosal disease Corneal oedema

Question 33

How would you treat papillomavirus?

Answer 33

Usually self-limiting Disinfect at milking Surgical excision if causing irritation or impairing function

Question 34

What are the clinical signs of bovine herpes mammilitis?

Answer 34

Ulcerative lesions on teats Mostly in 1st parity heifers

Question 35

How might you treat bovine herpes mammilitis?

Answer 35

Symptomatic Stop milking Disinfect to prevent secondary pyoderma

Question 36

What is rain scald/ dermatophilus?

Answer 36

Dermatophilus congolensis * Lesions affect the dorsum, following prolonged wet weather * Rarely clinically relevant * Symptomatic treatment

Question 37

How would you treat ringworm in cattle?

Answer 37

Limited evidence for treatment efficacy Antifungals – topical itraconazole, enilconazole Sunlight

Question 38

What are the two forms of photosensitisation?

Answer 38

1. Primary= caused by the sunlight 2. Secondary= caused by hepatic dysfunction

Question 39

What bacteria are skin abscesses commonly associated with?

Answer 39

Associated with Fusobacterium necorphorum and Trueperella pyogenes

Question 40

How would you diagnose photosensitisation? in cattle?

Answer 40

Secondary – liver biochemistry Primary – by excluding liver pathology Difficult to rule out photodynamic plant

Question 41

How would you treat photosensitisation in cattle?

Answer 41

Remove from sunlight for 2-4 weeks Corticosteroids Treat underlying liver disease (often euthanasia)

Question 42

How would you treat squamous cell carcinoma around the eyes?

Answer 42

Surgical excision

Question 43

Name 4 treatment options that you can use for mites in sheep

Answer 43

1. Diazinion- plunge dip 2. Ivermectin 3. Doramectin (injection) 4. Moxidectin (either 1 or 2% )

Question 44

What is ligonathus vituli?

Answer 44

Sucking louse in cattle, effects the dewlap and brisket