Ill Thrift in Youngstock Flashcards
What are the causes of ill thrift at grazing, at housing and which can occur either in or out?
Grazing - botulism and tetanus
Housing - ringworm, chronic bloat
Either - papillomas, degenerative arthropathy
sporadic bovine leucosis, bovine papular stomatitis
Describe the pathogenesis of botulism
Clostridium botulinum
Found in soil, multiplies in rotting veg and carcasses
Associated with poultry litter and big bale silage
TOxin binds to motor neurones, prevents ACh release = flaccid paralysis
Dramatic herd presentation rather than individual affected
What are the clinical signs of botulism?
By elimination Epidemiological evidence for exposure PM - toxin detection Send suspected feedstuffs/causal sources to lab No classic pathology
How is botulism treated?
Supportive - fluids, move recumbent animals
Notify AHO (not notifiable, issues relate to food chain)
Remove infective source
Don’t use poultry litter
Vaccinate (import from Ireland)
Describe the pathogenesis of tetanus
Clostridium tetani
Anaerobe found in soil
Spores enter wound, e.g. castration, then germinate in the anaerobic environment
Local toxin production = local/systemic effects, spastic muscle contraction
What are the clinical signs of tetanus?
Stiffness Raised tail head Bloat (rumen paralysis) Hyperaesthesia Dysphagia Progressive over days
How is tetanus treated?
Eary cases = anti-toxin Penicillin Supportive care Sedate if v excitable Severe cases = cull Px = gd hygiene, vaccinate (Covexin 8)
Describe the pathogenesis, CS and dx of ringworm
Path - v common, zoonotic, minor
CS - areas of hair loss, esp on face
Dx - CS
How is ring worm treated?
Usually self limiting
Enilconazole (Imaverol)
Vaccine - Bovilis Ringvac, therapeutic and prophylactic
Which virus causes papillomas and what are the different forms?
Bovine papilloma virus BPV 1 - fronds BPV 2 - head and neck BPV 3 - smooth warts BPV 4 - GIT warts (+ bracken exxposure = GIT carcinoma) BPV - 'rice grain'
What are the clinical signs of BPV 2?
Warts on head and neck
Teat warts = increas mastitis risk
How are papillomas treated?
Mild cases - self limiting
Severe cases - autogenous vaccine
Fly control - vector
Immune response increases with age
Describe the pathogenesis of degenerative arthropathy
Hip, stifle and hock joints
Degeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone
Joint effusion and osteophyte production
Predisposition - high nutrition, conformation, genetics (fast growing pedigrees)
What are the clinical signs of OCD?
Stiff gait
Lameness gradual, shifting, progressive
*poor correlation between CS and pathology
How is OCD treated?
Palliative
NSAIDs
Cull
