Intro to GI week

Question 1

List 2 causes of scour that are zoonotic

Answer 1

crytosporidium
salmonella

Question 2

List 5 things that influence the calf’s defences

Answer 2

Colostrum status
Stress and stocking density
Intercurrent disease (e.g. BVD, respiratory disease)
Correct feeding
Trace element status

Question 3

List 4 things that affect pathogen ‘load’ in calves

Answer 3

hygiene/ environment
stocking density
isolation of clinical cases
separation from adults

Question 4

If calf scour is ‘white’ and pasty what is the most likely causes

Answer 4

E.coli ?
nutritional ?
But need diagnostics

Question 5

If calf scour is dark and/or bloody what is the most likely causes

Answer 5

coccidiosis or salmonellosis?
Need diagnostics

Question 6

what can dehydration cause in a calf with scour

Answer 6

pre-renal azotaemia
acidosis –> hyperkalaemia and hypoglycaemia

Question 7

best place to do skin tent on cow

Answer 7

above the eye - probably most reliable place

Question 8

List the clinical signs of acidosis in calves

Answer 8

Signs not very specific
Poor/absent suck reflex
Depressed/recumbent
Comatose
Increased respiratory rate
Poor response to rehydration
Common in calves >6d

Question 9

What is generally seen with E.coli calf scour

Answer 9

Watery diarrhoea in young calf (<6d)
Rapid progression to collapse
Usually sporadic (single case)

Question 10

Describe what is generally seen with calf scour caused by salmonellosis

Answer 10

Often bloody diarrhoea with pyrexia
Can be pretty much any age

Question 11

Describe what is generally seen with calf scour caused by coccidiosis

Answer 11

Often less severe D+/systemic signs
Sometimes darker, stiff faeces +/- blood
Often tenesmus
Usually peri-/post-weaning

Question 12

what is most important to remember about treating calf D+

Answer 12

most causes self-limiting
Supportive therapy is usually the most important
Correcting dehydration and acid-base balance

Question 13

What does the withers test in a clinical examination help to detect?

Answer 13

Cranial abdominal pain

Question 14

A cow has eaten a large amount of concentrates and has appeared with a large distended rumen, which type of bloat is she likely to have?

Answer 14

Free gas

Question 15

Mechanisms of diarrhoea: E.coli in neonatal calves releases a toxin resulting in which pathogenic mechanism of diarrhoea

Answer 15

hypersecretion

Question 16

A sheep at pasture presents to you with anaemia and weight loss. What is your top differential?

Answer 16

Haemonchus contortus