Bovine neurology Flashcards
Give examples of genetic neurological conditions in cattle
- Hydrocephalus (Holstein, Hereford, Ayrshire, Charolais)
- Cerebellar hypomyelinogenesis (Shorthorn, Hereford, Angus)
- Progressive ataxia (Charolais)
What are congenital neurological conditions in cattle commonly associated with?
Infectious or toxic insults during pregnancy
Outline the aetiology of cerebellar hypoplasia in cattle
- Genetic condition (rare)
- congenital condition
- In utero infection of calves with BVD virus
Describe the epidemiology of cerebellar hypoplasia in cattle
- Infection of naiive cows during pregnancy with BVD
- Limited effects on dam, virus crosses placental barrier and infects calf
- Infection between 90-130 days gestation can lead to cerebellar hypoplasia (and other problems e.g. microphthalmia)
- Single cases, occasionally small storms e.g. batch calving groups
Outline the pathogenesis of cerebellar hypoplasia in cattle
- Cerebellum concerned with fine motor coordination of voluntary movement
- Hypoplasia leads to dysfunction leading to clumsy, jerky movements
Describe the clinical signs of cerebellar hypoplasia in cattle
- Ataxia and incoordination
- Wide based stance
- Hypermetria and intention tremors
- Lateral recumbency and inability to stand in severe cases
How is cerebellar hypoplasia of cattle diagnosed?
Based on clinical signs
Outline the treatment of cerebellar hypoplasia in cattle
None, mildly affected often cope if maintained in low stress environments
Outline the prevention of cerebellar hypoplasia in cattle
- Affected calves indicate active circulation of virus in herd so herd level investigation required
- Control programme for BVD is in place
- Remove persistently infected individuals
Describe the aetiology of meningitis/meningoencephalitis in cattle
- Inflammation of meninges and/or encephalon
- Usually bacterial or viral, infection in farm species
- Streptococcus spp, E coli in young
- Histophilus somnus in cattle
- Pasteurella multocida and Mannhemia haemolytica in lambs
Describe the epidemiology of meningitis/meningoencephalitis in cattle
- Most commonly sporadic disease of young (3-10 days) calves/lambs
- Failure of passive transfer and high environmental bacterial contamination
- Bacteraemia leads to navel ill/joint ill and less commonly meningitis
Describe the pathogenesis of meningitis/meningoencephalitis in cattle
- Localisation of septic foci in meningeal vessels, occasionally progressing to encephalon
- Hyperaemia, opacity and accumulation of pus
- Swelling
Describe the clinical signs of meningitis/meningoencephalitis in cattle
- Initially depression, weakness, lack of suck reflex, low head carriage, neck extension
- Leads to ataxia, recumbency, lack of menace, episcleral congestion
- Leads to stupor, hyperaesthesia, opisthotonus and death
- Other signs: polyarthritis, hypopyon, omphlophlebitis, diarrhoea
Outline the diagnosis of meningitis/meningoencephalitis in cattle
- Clinical signs
- CSF tap (not required for treatment, may show increased protein and WBC count, turbidity and can culture)
Describe the treatment of meningitis/meningoencephalitis in cattle
- Prognosis poor unless early treatment
- High doses of braod spec, bacteriocidal, BBB crossing antibiotics: 3rd gen cephalosporins, florfenicol, TMPS combinations
- NSAIDs
- Supportive treatment e.g. fluids and nursing
Describe the prevention of meningitis/meningoencephalitis in cattle
- Neonatal managment
- Passive transfer of immunity via colostrum must be ensured
- Clean environment, disinfect regularly
- Navel dressing
Describe the aetiology of otitis media in cattle
- Infection usually bacterial
- Often mixed infection
- Ascending infection up eustachian tube following pneumonia
- Haematogenous spread (navel/joint ill in calves)
- Rarely an extension of otitis externa
What are the common pathogens in otitis media in cattle?
E coli, Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., Mycoplasma bovis
Describe the epidemiology of otitis media in cattle
- Usually younger calves and lambs
- Sporadic single cases, some group outbreaks reported
Describe the clinical signs of otitis media in cattle
- Head tilt, possible ataxia, circling/falling towards affected side
- Occasionally ear drooping (inflammation of facial nerve)
- Purulent discharge if tympanic membrane ruptured
- Pyrexia/anorexia/dull in advanced disease
Outline the diagnosis of otitis media in cattle
- Clincial signs
- Further investigation possible similar to small animals, but rarely necessary
- NB trauma may be a differential, higher risk than in small animals
Outline the treatment of otitis media in cattle
- Antibiotics: brad spec, long course 3-4 weeks
- NSAIDs
- Irrigation following rupture of tympanic membrane possible
Outline the prevention of otitis media in cattle
Difficult, prevent pneumonia and navel/joint ill
Describe the aetiology of hypovitaminosis A in cattle
- Primary deficiency of vit A or carotene in diet
- Secondary deficiency caused by problems with digestion, absorption or metabolism (Less common)
Describe the epidemiology of hypovitaminosis A in cattle
- Usually young housed cattle on diets lacking green plant material i.e. straw and cereals without mineral and vit supplementation
- May be maternal deficiency leading to congenital deficiencyand disease in young calves
- Neonates should have high levels of vit A in colostrum
Describe the pathogenesis of hypovitaminosis A in cattle
Required for:
- Rhodopsin photo-receptor
- Maintenance of epithelial tissue and mucus membranes
- Normal bone growth
- Also leads to damage to peripheral nerve roots and increased intracranial pressure
Describe the clinical signs of hypovitaminosis A in growing cattle (not congenital)
- Night blindness leading to complete blindness
- Rough, dry coat, poor quality hoof horn
- Paralysis, initially show weakness and incoordination
- Encephalopathy seen as convulsions and other nervous signs
Describe the clinical signs of hypovitaminosis A as a congenital disease of young calves
- Born blind (optic nerve constriction)
- Other ocular problems e.g. microphthalmos
- Tonic-clonic convulsions
Outline the diagnosis of hypovitaminosis A in cattle
- History and clinical signs
- Vitamin A levels in plasma <10ug/100ml
- High CSF pressure (theoretical)
Outline the treatment of hypovitaminosis a in cattle
- Parenteral administration of vit A at 400iu/kg BW (rapid response unless chronically affected)
- Ensure ongoing daily requirements met by diet
Outline the prevention of hypovitaminosis A in cattle
- Daily requirement 40IU/kg BW
- Ensure cattle and sheep of all ages receive green forage or are supplemented with minerals and vitamins
What is cerebrocortical necrosis also known as?
Polioencephalomalacia
Describe the aetiology of polioencephalomalacia in cattle
- Deficiency of vit B (thiamin)
- Normal requirements absorbed from rumen produced by microflora
- Primary deficiency: inadeuate production/absorption, unclear aetiology
- Secondary deficiency: presence of thiaminases in rumen of bacterial production of plants
- High levels of sulphate in diet
- Brain dependent on carbohydrate in diet, absorbed thiamine converted to thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), which is coenzyme in TCA and other carb metabolism processes
Give examples of bacterial thiaminases
- Bacillus thiaminolyticus
- Clostridium sporogenes (Thiaminase type 1)
- Bacillus anaerinolyticus (thiaminase type II)
Give examples of plant thiaminases
- Bracken fern
- Horsetail
Describe the epidemiology of polioencephalomalacia
- Sporadic, often small clusters of cases
- Most common vitamin deficiency
- Usually young, often fast growing/well fed calves (4-18mo) and lambs (4-8mo) on low fibre diets
- Often associated with chagne in diet
- Occasionally single cases in adults
Describe the post mortem findings in polioencephalomalacia
- Brain pale, swollen, flattened gyri, sometimes yellow discolouration
- Necrotic cortical tissues in cerebrum with laminar configuration
- Affected regions have bright white autofluorescence when viewed with UV light (pathognomic)
- Histopath shows necrosis esp. in cortex
Describe the clinical signs of polioencephalomalacia in cattle
- Initially dull, diarrhoeic
- then neuro signs: staggering, high head carriage/star gazing, wandering
- Blind, no menace response
- Hyperaesthesia to tactile and auditory stimuli
- recumbency, muscle tremors, intermitent opisthotonus, convulsion, periods of flaccid and spastic paresis
- Death in 1-4 days if untreated
What are the pathognomic signs of polioencephalomalacia in cattle?
Wide based stance and stargazing