Livestock Neonatology Flashcards
Calf losses < 2 days are typically caused by _________
while calf losses >3 days are likely caused by _______
<2 days: typically non-infectious, associated with physiological derangements- birthing trauma, difficult postnatal adaption
> 3 days: likely infectious in nature
What are the influences on calf health
dystocia
environment
genetics
dam health
T/F: placenta transfers critical components of calf health
False- colostrum provides or supplements those things
colostrum acquisition is the most influential manageable factors
Why is colostrum so essential to calves
1) Warmth
2) fluid
3) Standard nutritional components
4) Immunoglobulins
5) Non-immunoglobulin immune factors- cell, various cytokines, enzymes
What are the immunoglobulin percentages in calf colostrum
1) IgG= 85-90% (80-90% IgG1, 10-20% IgG2)
2) IgA = 5%
3) IgM = 7%
Colostrum is higher in _______ than milk
-Sepcific gravity
-Total Solid %
-Fat %
-Total Protein
-Immunoglobulins
-Insulin
-Vitamin A
-Nutrtions: Ca, P, Mg, Fe, zn, Mn
for calves to get very influential benefits of colostrum, what must be met
1) Very soon after birth
2) Sufficient colostrum quality/composition
3) Sufficient quantity
4) Bacteriologically celan (not comaninated)
if these are met, calves have a better physiological and immunological preparation for challenges
Risk of health impairments are diminished
Why is measuring calf serum immunoglobulin concentrations very informative of success
calves are born agammaglobulinemic = no immunoglobulins
transfer of maternal immunoglobulins is highly correlated to all other colostrum benefits
T/F: you can examine inadequate passive transfer on physical exam
False- it is not a disease but a risk factor
Animals with poor passive transfer are at increased risk for
septicemia, diarrhea, enteritis, omphalitis, arthritis, respiratory, and other diseases
bacterial infection of the umbilical cord stump and surrounding area in a newborn.
omphalitis
Numerical reference values for failure of passive transfer are only guidelines for _________________
the amount of Ig needed for protection
-many other factors influence the Ig concentration needed for protection
-management, environment, infection pressure, virulence, antibody specificity
-Agent, Environment, Host
What is the mechanism of passive transfer
1) Secretion of IgG (IgG1) from maternal serum to colostrum
2) Absorption of colostral IgG1 from calf gut to system
When does maternal secretion of IgG1 occur in cows
4-6 weeks prepartum
Maternal secretion of IgG1 typically occurs through what process
Active and Selective process
receptor mediated
occurs 4-6 weeks prepartum
IgG1> IgG2, IgM, IgA
Why do we vaccinate dams 6-8 weeks before parturition to ensure adequate calf health
Maternal Secretion of IgG1 occurs 4-6 weeks prepartum so it takes 1-2 weeks to mount response that then will go into the colostrum
How does neonatal absorption of IgG1 occur
non-selective process
non-receptor mediated (M- cells and pinocytosis)
saturable
occur up until 24 hours postpartum (closure occurs)
IgG1, Ig2, IgM, IgA, albumin
How do other foreign proteins affect absorption of IgG1
compete against absorption
this is why we need good quality and quantity with purity of colostrum
lactogenic immunity
protective mechanism of colostrum where there is high levels of antibody in the gut
What are the different protective mechanism immunities of colostrum
1) Lactogenic
2) Systemic humoral immunity
3) Enteric immunity
4) Cellular immunity
What do you need to get successful passive transfer
Supply Factors
1) Formation of colostrum with adequate IgG concentration by dam
2) Ingestion of an adequate mass of IgG by the neonate. = quantity x Ig concentration
Absorption Factors
3) timely absorption of IgG by the neonate
4) Colostrum hygiene to avoid competition for absorption of IgG
Do younger or older animals tend to produce more colostrum
Older - more antigenic experience
How does colostral (IgG1) differ between beef and dairy cattle
dairy- decreased concentration, bred for high volumes - more volume is going to be given
Beef: about 2 L of colostrum needed to reach >200g of IgG1
Dairy: about 4L of colostrum needed to reach >200g of IgG1
What is the minimum goal of colostrum ingestion in cattle
Minimum = >200 grams of IgG1
Beef: 2L x 130mg/ml = 260g
Dairy: 4L x 50mg/ml = 200g
What factors might result in failure of calf to ingest colostrum
-Dystocia
-Mothering (or lack thereof)
-teat confirmation
-Hard milkers
-Weak/Stressed calves
-Dummy calves
-Management
In colostrum management, we manage ________ in beef while ________ in dairy
Beef: manage animals (health of dam, calf, and if they are nursing)
Dairy: manage each of colostrum features
-Quality
-Quantity
-Cleanliness
-Quickness
-Quantify
What are the 5 colostrum features managed in dairy breeds
1) Quality
2) Quantity
3) Cleanliness
4) Quickness
5) Quantify
How do we measure colostrum quality
*Colostral IgG
1) RID assay: >50g/L
expensive, long timely, and direct
2) Brix Refractometer
>22%
3) Colostrometer
Green zone
4) visual appearance
very poor indicator
When measuring colostrum quality in dairy breeds, RID assay should be
> 50 g/L
this is an expensive but direct way of measuring IgG
When measuring colostrum quality in dairy breeds, Brix Refractometer needs to be
> 22%
measures density of the colostrum
indirect but good and timely
When measuring colostrum quality in dairy breeds, the colostrometer needs to be
in the green zone
What is the adequate quantity of colostrum
200 g of IgG in first feeding
10-12% of body weight at feeding
3-4q @ birth and 2q @ 12 hours is recommended
6-8q within the first 24 hours
Increased colostrum quantity in calves is associated with
1) Decreased preweaning morbidity and mortality
2) Increased ADG preweaning
3) Earlier breeding
4) Increased milk production in 1st and 2nd lactation
How many quarts of colostrum is needed
6-8 within first 24 hours
3-4 at birth, 2q at 12 hours is recommended
10-12% of body weight at first feeding
What are common pathogens to contaminate colostrum cleanliness in cattle
-E. coli
-Salmonella
-Mycoplasma
-Mycobacterium bovis
-Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease)
bacterial load in colostrum interferes with
IgG absorption
reduces the quality of colostrum?
What is the goal of colostrum cleanliness
Total plate count (TPC) <20,000 bacterial cells/ml
Pasteruized Milk Ordinance (PMO) limit milk = 100,000 cells/ml
less than what is fed to the general public
What factors affect the cleanliness of colostrum management
1) udder hygiene
2) Collection and feeding equipment
3) pooling- not a good idea
What are good ways to ensure colostrum cleanliness
Store appropriately- prompt chilling
heat treat/pasteurize
batch -140F * 60 min
What are alternatives for colostrum
Colostrum replacers
do not use supplements - poor IgG
How do you heat treat / pasteurize colostrum
batch - 140F for 60 min
lower temperature for longer time- gentle level to save the proteins and immunoglobulins
T/F: ingestion of colostrum might trigger closure
True-
progressive decrease in ability to absorb IgG
50% decrease by 9 hours
earlier feeding leads to earlier closure - less potential for pathogen exposure
What is the target of colostrum quickness
milk dam and get colostrum to calf within the first hour
-better IgG absorption and less bacterial invasion/absorption
To quantify transfer of Ig from colostrum to calf, what should the serum IgG status with RID assay read
Minimum serum IgG > 10mg/mL at 2-7 days of age
expensive and direct
To quantify transfer of Ig from colostrum to calf, what should the standard refractometer be
Minimum > 5.2 g/dL in 90% of calves
correlation with serum IgG r2 ~0.6
To quantify transfer of Ig from colostrum to calf, what should the Brix refractoter of calf serum be
> 8.3% in 90% of calves
correlation with serum IgG - r2~ 0.75
What is a common way to quantify transfer of Ig from colostrum to calf
Serum total protein at 2-7 days of age
-simple and indirect
-herd vs individual
It is recommended that you assess for passive transfer between
2-7 days
well hydrated calves
before substantial loss- IgG half life is 21 days
Brix measurements include all
all solids, not just protein
Units
Colostrum:
Serum IgG :
Serum TP:
Colostrum: gram/L
Serum IgG : mg/mL (by RID)
Serum TP: (g/dL(
Serum total protein accounts for
all serum proteins, not just IgG
-albumin, non-Ig globulins, immunoglobulins
with 0 IgG, calf serum protein is 4.2 g/dl
with 1000mg/dl IgG STP = 5.2 mg/dk
Plasma TP would also include fibrinogen
How does Plasma TP differ from serum TP
Plasma TP also includes fibrinogen
10 g/L IgG is about _____ total serum protein
5.2 g/dl
What is the new standard of individual calf evaluation of passive transfer
Excellent: >40%
>25 g/L IgG;
serum TP >6 g/L
Good: >30%
18-24.9 g/L IgG;
serum TP 5.8-6.1 g/dl
Fair: >20%
10-17.9 g/L IgG;
5.1-5.7 g/dl serum TP
Poor: <10%
<10 g/L IgG;
serum tp <5.1 g/dl
At minimum you should provide ______ quarts of clean, quality colostrum within ______ hours of birth
4 quarts of clean ,quality colostrum within 1-2 hours of birth
How to monitor colostrum management and prevalence of passive transfer **
Colostrum:
-IgG >50g/L
-Brix >22%
Serum:
-IgG >18 g/L
-Brix >8.9%
-Total Protein >5.8 g/dL
Common neonatal calf diseases
perinatal disease
weak calves
trauma
congenital defects
infectious diseases
enteric * (most common)
septicemic *(most common)
respiratory
How do you assess calf vigor
1) Delivery status
2) Behavior: head-right, sternal recumbence, attempt to stand, standing
3,5,20, 60 min
3) Suckle response
4) Strong, oriented
5) Rectal temp
The calf should
lift head by _______
sternal recumbence by _______
Attempt to stand by ____
Stand by ______
Lift head: 3 min
Sternal: 5 min
Attempt to stand: 20 min
Stand: 60 min
How to you stimulate and enhance neonatal respiration
assist in ventilation of lungs (breathing) - stimulate by rubbing and drying calf
How do you maintain neoatal body temp
thermoregulation via supplemental heat, calf jackets
How do you increase blood volume and provide energy of calfs
administer colostrum
How do you treat/prevent neonatal issues
-Colostrum then milk (tube if necessary)
-Supportive care: keep warm, nutritional supplementation, etc
-Rule out infectious disease
-Prevention
What might cause a weak or dummy calf
1) Nutrition- protein/energy, micro/macro minerals
2) Hypothermia
3) Perinatal hypoxia **
4) Infectious diseases (fetal infections) - most often just result in abortions
When the calf is beyond the first 3 days, what is the concern
Infectious causes - specifically neonatal diarrhea
calves are immunologically naive- risk of infection and disease with enteric infections
common enteric pathogens are present in the environment
infection is common, disease is not
Within the first week of age, what enteric pathogen is concerning for calves
E. Coli - K99
Secretory Diarrhea- supplement fluids
generally <5 days
Crypto, Rotavirus, and Coronavirus tend to affect calves within *
1-3 weeks of age
(10-12 days is hit point)
wont get sick beyond that
Cryptosporidium tends to affects calves aged
1-3 weeks of age
(10-12 days is hit point)
wont get sick beyond that
Rotavirus tends to affect calves aged
1-3 weeks of age
(10-12 days is hit point)
wont get sick beyond that
Coronavirus tends to affect calves aged
1-4 weeks of age
(Peak 2 weeks )
wont get sick beyond that
Enterogenic E. Coli K99 tends to affect calves aged
< 5 days
Clostridium perfringens type C tends to affect calves aged
<20 days
Salmonella and invasive E. coli tend to affect calves aged
5 to 45 days
What causes calf scours
Rotavirus
Coronavirus
Cryptosporidium
E. Coli K99
primary mechanism- result in loss of fluid and electrolytes causing acidosis, hyponatremia, etc
What virus blunts microvilli, what destroys it
Blunting: Rotavirus
Destroyed: Corona Virus
What virus blunts microvilli
Rotavirus
What virus damages microvilli
Coronavirus
T/F: calf scours enteritis has minimal inflammation and invasion
True- very localized infection with disturbed GI function
What might you see on physical examination that indicates calf dehydration
-Skin tent
-Strength and activity
-Eyeglobe position
-Peripheral perfusion
-Diarrhea
The most common diarrhea agents from neonatal calves are
Crypto
Rotavirus
Corona
What are the different types of Enteric E. coli
Enterotoxigenic: <1 week, fimbria/pilus, enterotxin
Enterohemorrhagic: 1 week- 4months, K99 negative, Shiga-like toxin = verotoxin
Enteropathogenic (lack SLT)
Enteroinvasive
Enterohemorrhagic Enteric E. coli affect calves
1 week to 4 months
K99 negative
produce Shiga-like toxin = verotoxin
What 3 agents cause inflammatory enteritis in calves
1) Salmonellosis
2) Invasive E. coli
3) Clostridial enteritis
very different than the scour pathogens because these cause lots of inflammation, damage to gut and potential invasion
Invasive E. coli (attaching and effacing) affect calves aged
3-21 cause lots of inflammation, damage to gut, and potential invasion
Clostridium perfringens type that causes hemorrhagic enterocolitis
Type C
Clostridium perfringens type that causes enteritis in lambs
Type B
Clostridium perfringens type that causes etneritis and abomasitis
Type A
Clostridium perfringens type that causes enterotoxemia and overeating disease
Type D
The most common causes of calf diarrhea (scours) is
Crypto
Rota
Corona virus
commonly occur between 1-2 weeks
these hurt or kill claves by causing fluid and electrolyte loss
Antibioitcs do not affect bugs and infection resolves on its own if the calf survives
T/F: antibiotics are needed to treat calf scours (caused by crypto, rota, and corona virus)
False- antibiotics do not affect these bugs and the infection resolves on its own if the calf survives
How do bacterial infections of salmonella, E coli, and clostridium kill calves
generally occur 4-30 days
kill calves by invading and causing tissue inflamamtion and damage
Antibiotics may be useful against these bugs- might not be absorpted, might need to go parenteral
if you are going to use antibiotics for calves, what route does it need to be
parenteral - needs to be targeted to right pathogen
inappropriate for virus or protozoa
How do you treat viral/protozoal enteritis in calfs
Fluid therapy is critical- oral, SQ, IV
Antibiotics VERY limited efficacy, may be deleterious,
parenteral may be justified for secondary or mixed infections
Adjunctive treatments may have value
Septicemia in calves is mostly due to
gram - infectios
e.coli and salmonella most common
gram + are possible and commonly polymicrobial
What are the clinical signs of septicemia
1) Injected sclera and mucous membranes
2) Abnormal mucous membranes
3) cold extremities
4) Neutropenia, left shift
5) Increased fibrinogen
6) Hypoglycemia
7) Depression > dehydration: profound without severe diarrhea
8) Multiple organ systems
same as for adult septicemia
How do you treat bacterial / inflammatory enteritis in calves
1) Fluid therapy - important as needed: IV
2) Antibiotics- very limited efficacy
Oral- No valid PK info
*Only parenteral broad spectrum except for Clostridium - penicilllin
3) Adjunctive treatments may have value
For bacterial / inflammatory enteritis, antibiotics have very limited efficacy but you should only do parenteral broad spectrum except when you have
Clostridium infection - do oral penicillin
How do you treat sepsis in calves
1) antibiotics- IV preferred
2) NSAIDs
3) IV fluids
4) Plasma
5) GI protectants
guarded to grave prognosis (<10% success)
more common with poor colostral transfer
prevention is key
Septicemia in calves is more common with
poor colostral transfer
prevention is key
What factors predispose calves to abomasitis
-Intermittent feeding of large volumes
-Dietary changes
-Clostridium perfringens type A
-Abomasal trichobezoars (hair balls)
-Copper deficiency
*Sporadic occurances
Dietary changes might cause what in cattle
Abomasitis
What are the clinical signs of abomasitis
-Acute distention of abomasum with gas
-colic, restlessness
-passage of stomach tube does not provide significant relifed (R sided, can look bilateral)
-metabolic acidosis, depression, shock
How do you treat cattle with abomasitis
1) Decompression
2) Right flank laparotomy
3) Fluid therapy- hydration, electrolytes, acid-based corrections
4) Antibioitcs (Type A perfringens) - oral penicillin
5) Clostridium perf. C and D antitoxin
6) Kaopectate
Likely not to change course of disease
What might cause ruminal bloat in calves
1) Rumen putrefaction: tubing milk, overeating, esophageal groove dysfunction
*milk accumulates in the rumen instead of abomasum -> abnormal fermentation *
2) secondary bloat- complication of bronchopneumonia
Secondary bloat might be caused by
Bronchopneumonia
What might cause rumen putrefaction leading to ruminal bloat in calves
tubing milk, overeating, esophageal groove dysfunction
*milk accumulates in the rumen instead of abomasum -> abnormal fermentation *
What are the common clinical signs of cows with rumen putrefaction
recurrent bloat
poor growth
diarrhea
rought hair coat
How do you treat rumen putrefaction in cattle
1) Rumen lavage
2) Oral tetracycline or penicillin
3) Rumen fluid transfaunation
4) Change diet - nipple rather than bucket, smaller volumes more frequently, warm milk
5) Calf starter to promote rumen development
How might you prevent rumen putrefaction
Change feeding protocl
-Nipple rather than bucket
-Smaller volumes more frequently
-Warm milk
Calf starter to promote rumen development
How might bronchopneumonia cause secondary bloat
1) mediastinal LN enlargement
2) Esophageal compression / obstruction
How do you treat secondary bloat from bronchopneumonia
fix the primary problem: pneumonia
intermittent tubing or temporary rumen fistula or trochar
