Diseases of the intestines in ruminants Flashcards
Enteritis of Ruminants
Aetiology
• Sole or multifactorial causes
Enteritis of Ruminants
Non-infectious causes
- Abnormal ruminal content, chemicals = putrefaction
- Mouldy or rotten feed
- Plants, e.g. Senecio, Crotalaria species
• Milk, milk replacers calf: ruminal drinker (RGB p283) = technotrichonezoar with antinutritive
factors
• 6 layers between the foetus and mother so baby have to consume the colostrum to get the
immunoglobulin:
o in fresh colostrum: trypsin inhibitor and tubuloalveloral structures which make this
large molecule possible to absorb (46 48 h) + closure of the tubuloalveolar structures
o 6-8 % of his body weight should be the colostrum as soon as possible
o we can measure the value of colostrum with refractometer or special gravity (higher
than 1060 for a good quality colostrum)
Enteritis of Ruminants
Infectious causes
• Virus: BVD, rota-, adeno-, coronavirus
• Bacterium: E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens D (overgrowth of commensal bact.),
M. paratuberculosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Cam. coli, Chlamydia psittaci
• Parasites: Eimeria, Cryptosporidium parvum, Toxocara vitulorum, gastrointestinal
helminthoses
• Fungi: candidiasis, mycotoxicosis (Stachybotris, Fusarium)
Enteritis of Ruminants
Pathogenesis
• Enteritis (malabsorption, maldigestion)→diarrhoea
• Eliciting factors of diarrhoea (mainly in acute cases)
1. Osmotic effect: abnormal digestion + secretion→hyperosmosis
2. Inflammation, necrosis: (damage of the intestinal villi) fluid secretion, exudate, (–) absorption
→malabsorption, maldigestion, protein loss
3. Endo/exotoxins: dysfunction of epithelial cells: abnormal (drugs) secretion/absorption: fluid
secretion
4. Increased intestinal peristalsis: by irritating substances, ++ parasympathethic effect, (–)
absorption
5. Later: intestinal paralysis
Sequels of diarrhoea
• Acute form:
o Dehydration, loss of electrolyte and NaHCO3
o Metabolic acidosis
o Extrarenal uraemia
o + septicaemia, degeneration of the parenchymal organs, peritonitis
• Chronic form: (=paratuberculosis)
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o maldigestion, malabsorption, hypoproteinemia, (–) vitamins, (–) energy→skin oedema, cachexia
Enteritis of Ruminants
Diagnosis
- Epidemiological situation
- Symptomatic, etiological diagnosis (see RGB p236, p239)
- Additional laboratory examinations
Enteritis of Ruminants
Treatment and control
- Elimination of the cause: change of feed, drugs against infections
- Fluid, electrolyte and energy replacement, correction of acidosis: Ringer, NaHCO3 solution,
glucose, amino acid infusions iv./ip./ io.?) per os applicated combined drugs for rehydration,
camomile tea - Treatment of malabsorption/maldigestion and paralysis: charcoal, protectants: Calcium
carbonicum precipitatum, kaolin, pectin - Treatment of fever/pain/spasm: benzetimide, metamizol, scopolamine
- Supporting of general resistance: A and D vitamins, trace elements
- Diet: adult ruminants→hay, bran, rumen juice
Clinical aspects of paratuberculosis in ruminants
Occurrence
- Cattle: older animals of 3-5 years, +/- epidemic
- Sheep, goat: also occurs
- Human aspects: relationship???
Clinical aspects of paratuberculosis in ruminants
Aetiology
• Mycobacterium avium ssp. Paratuberculosis
Clinical aspects of paratuberculosis in ruminants
Clinical signs
- History: chronic, gradual weight loss, then cachexia
- (++) appetite!! , (++) thirst, variable diarrhoea
• Physical findings:
o Chronic weight loss, weakness
o Dehydrated skin; oedema: beard
o Pale mucosal membranes
o Normal rumen motility
o Faeces: variable consistency yellowish-greenish diarrhoea o Laboratory examination: hypoproteinaemia
Clinical aspects of paratuberculosis in ruminants
Diagnosis
- Typical history and clinical signs
- Faeces (or scraping from the rectum): Ziehl-Neelsen positive, bacteria in nests
- Johnin probe iv. = not easy , in + cases : increase diarrhea . But not used nowadays
- Further laboratory examinations:
o Bacterial culture
o Serological tests: CB test, Agar gel immunodiffusion, LAM-ELISA, DNA analytical
tests
o 1 bact pcr + is the best
Clinical aspects of paratuberculosis in ruminants
Differential diagnosis
• Other chronic enteritis of adult ruminants
Clinical aspects of paratuberculosis in ruminants
Treatment and control
- Symptomatic therapy, eradication (difficult!)
* Eradication is the only way
Caecal dilatation and torsion in cattle (dilatorsio et tosio intestini caeci
bovum)
Occurrence
• around calving, in high-yielding cows(approx. the same occurrence rate as that of RDA)
Caecal dilatation and torsion in cattle (dilatorsio et tosio intestini caeci
bovum)
Aetiology and pathogenesis
• (++) grain → (++) VFA → (–) pH, (++) butyric acid → caecal atony → dyspepsia,
fermentation→dilatation (fluid + gas)→dislocation, torsion→ischemia
Caecal dilatation and torsion in cattle (dilatorsio et tosio intestini caeci
bovum)
Clinical signs
• Course: peracute, acute, subacute
• General symptoms:
o Depression and/or colic
o Anorexia, rapid cease of milk production
o Dehydration, shock
• Basic clinical values:
o T: n /(–), P: ++, R: changing
• Digestive signs:
o Faeces: lacking or scant, greenish-blackish, pasty-creamy o Ruminal stasis
o +/- positive reticular pain probes
• Targeted examination findings of the cecum:
• Distended right flank ( “sausage-like” balloon )
• Tympanic percussion finding
• Auscultation with ballotement: splashing sounds
• Auscultation with percussion: metallic sounds
• Rectal examination: Tense, ”sausage-like” balloon
• Caecal torsion: more serious signs, more expressed rectal finding
