Neonatal Calf Diseases Flashcards
what are neonatal calf diseases (not in any order) (10)
- scours
- septic arthritis
- hereditary disease
- congenital disease
- septicemia
- mineral def
- pneumonia
- pneumonia
- meningitis
- umbilical infection
what does the umbilicus consist of
Urachus —> vestigial part of bladder apex
Umbilical veins —> round ligament of liver
Umbilical artery —> lateral ligament of bladder
what is omphalitis
infection in umbilicus
what is omphaloarteritis
infection in umbilical artery
what is omphalophlebitis
infection in umbilical vein
how are umbilical infections caused
infection gains access while stump is still wet
open access to bloodstream
how does infection gain access to bloodstream in umbilical infections
Poor management of umbilicus
Dirty environment
Failure of passive transfer
what bacteria can cause umbilical infection
E. coli
Staph
Proteus
Fusobacterium necrophorum
Mannheimia hemolytics
Arcanobacterium pyogenes
Salmonellae
what are the clinical signs of umbilical infection
Hot/swollen/painful umbilicus
+/- pus
+/- lameness
+/- intermittent purulent discharge
+/- systemic signs
- Dull, ill thrifty, inappetent
+/- urinary signs, persistent urachus (urinalysis)
what are the treatment of umbilical infection
2-3 weeks duration
- Broad spectrum
- Ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, sulfadimethoxine (TMPS)
May be septicemia so need fluids/NSAIDs
what are the consequences of umbilical infection
May lead to:
Abscessation
Septicemia
Joint ill, polyarthritis
Liver abscess or cystitis
Hypopyon anterior chamber of eye (inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber)
how is umbilical infection prevented
Strong iodine (+/- surgical spirit)
Oxytet spray
Colostrum
Environment
what is shown here
hpopyon in anterior chamber of eye due to umbilical infection
what is the most common congenital disease of cattle
umbilical hernia
how do you tell the difference between an umbilical hernia and infection
what are the complications of umbilical hernias
Adhesions
Bowel strangulation
how do you treat umbilical hernias
Leave alone
Surgical repair open or closed
Do not breed from them
what is septic arthritis also known as
joint ill
what causes septic arthritis
Consequence to umbilical infection or other infections
Bacteremia and/or septicemia
what are the pathogens that cause spetic arthritis (5)
Trueperella pyogenes
Streptococcus spp.
E. coli
Staphylococcus spp.
Mycoplasma
what are the clinical signs of septic arthritis
One/multiple joint swellings (carpus/stifle)
Lameness
Pyrexia
+/- swollen navel
Down
Loss of joint movement
Joint capsule inflamed
Contraction of flexor tendons
how is septic arthritis diagnosed (6)
Clinical signs
Arthrocentesis
Fluid aspiration
Culture & sensitivity
Radiography (when more chronic)
Ultrasound
how is septic arhtritis treated
3 weeks broad spectrum antibiotics (including Mycoplasma) IV if possible initially
Intra-articular antibiotics?
Joint lavage? (fibrin = difficult)
NSAIDs
Vet often too late = poor response to treatment and chronic lameness
what does septic arthritis lead to in the joint
irreversible destruction of articular cartilage
what is septicemia
Systemic disease associated with the presence of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in the blood
what are the causes of septicemia (5)
E. coli (O78, O137, O153) Endotoxin (50%)
Salmonella
Campylobacter
Klebsiella
Staphylococcus
what are sources of bacteria that cause septicemia
Environment
Colostrum/milk —> intestine or umbilicus
Uterus
what are the reasons for septicemia commonly
Usually calves <2 weeks old with FPT and/or high exposure to bacterial pathogens (ex. scour)
describe the septicemia process (7)
- Pathogen enters blood
- Calf immune response unable to clear (FPT, pathogen load, stress)
- Systemic immune response
- Cascade into adverse immune response
- Shock (hypovolemia, hypotension, respiratory failure)
- Organ failure
- Death
what are the clinical signs of septicemia (7)
- Rapid progression; often fatal —> found dead (Trauma, congenital disease?)
- Early signs non-specific
- Depression
- Reduced suckling (acidosis?)
- Fever or hypothermia
- Sustained tachycardia (+ tachypnea)
- Pneumonia?
- Pain?
- Hyperemia of mucus membranes & scleral injection
- Progressive shock
- Localized infection:
- Arthritis
- Eye (hypopyon)
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
what is shown here
hyperemia of mucus membranes due to septicemia
how is septicemia treated (4)
Response to treatment often poor
- Antimicrobials
- Preferably IV
- Gram negative or broad-spectrum initially (then select on basis of culture & sensitivity if available)
- NSAIDs
- Counter pathogenic effects of inflammatory response and endotoxemia
- Flunixin meglumine (0.22-0.33 mg/kg up to 3x daily)
- Supportive treatment:
* Warmth, good bedding, nursing care - IV fluids (plasma transfusion, oxygen admin)
what are the causes of meningitis
linked to septicemia and pneumonia
what is meningitis
Inflammation of one or more of the three covering layers of the meninges in the CNS
what are the clinical signs of meningitis
Depression
Reduced suckling
Neck pain
Star gazing
Head pressing
Opisthotonos (rigid and arches their back, with their head thrown backward)
Pyrexia (initially)
Hypopyon
Hyperesthesia (acidosis?)
Blindness
Ataxia
Spasticity
Slow deep respiration (clear sign of meningitis)
what clinical sign is shown here
Star gazing
meningitis
how is meningitis diagnosed
CS
CSF?
what is the treatment of meningitis
Antibiotics that cross the blood brain barrier and broad spectrum
- 14 days
- Penicillin
- TMPS (sulfadimethoxine), oxytetracycline
NSAID
Sedation
what does selenium deficiency cause
decreased immune response
white muscle disease
what does an iodine deficiency cause
decreased metabolic rate
inability to stand
goitre
what does vitamin A deficiency cause
blindness
still born/weak calves
what are other causes of pneumonia besides viral, bacteria
- post natal hypoxia/hypercapnia
- aspiration pneumonia (tube feeding/meconium)
- fractured ribs (delivery, stood on by cow)
what is ruminal drinking
rumen dysfunction from milk entering rumen
what is sporadic ruminal drinking
single milk feed entering rumen
how does milk enter the rumen
Esophageal groove acts as bypass so milk enters the abomasum and not rumen (water still goes into rumen)
how does failure of the esophageal groove happen
Failure of groove:
Inconsistent milk feeding regime
Poor quality TMR/compound feeds
Tube milk feeding
what are the clinical signs of ruminal drinking
Bloat
Failure to thrive
Poor growth rates
Pot bellied appearance
Reduced appetite
Acidosis signs
Fluid splashing on deep ballottement of lower left abdomen
how do you treat ruminal drinking
If you can pull of the milk altogether and feed good quality hay and concentrates —> recovery in a couple of weeks
- Based on development
- Should be 20% of mature bwt
- Pear shaped
- 1.5kg (20% protein concentrate) per calf per day
If too young to pull off milk try to reinstate esophageal groove
- Alter feeding (avoid stomach tubing milk) —> suckle
- Bicarbonate/electrolytes
what are the differences between congenital and hereditary diseases
congenital: Disease or abnormality present from birth
hereditary:
May or may not be congenital
Genetic component
what are congenital calf diseases
Atresia ani
Ventricular septal defect
Hypospadia
Cleft palate
Hypotrichosis
Contracted tendons
Hydrocephalus
Chondrodystrophy
how do you investigate congenital defects
History of dam: nutrition, disease, drug therapy during gestation
Movements onto premises with possible teratogens
Seasonal relationship
Newly introduced stock
Pedigree analysis —> reportable?
Significant welfare impact
what are some hereditary calf diseases
Free martin
- Female twin calf in utero with male calf
- Blind ending vagina, cannot breed
Umbilical hernia
Hypotrichosis
Spastic paresis
Many others
what is abomasitis and abomasal bloat
sporadic
calves <3 weeks old
rapid onset of abdominal distention, depressed attitude and occasional signs of colic
what are the clinical signs of abomasitis and abomasal bloat
Rapid onset of abdominal distention
Depressed attitude
Occasional signs of colic
Teeth grinding and salivation
Diarrhea?
Abdominal distention, if the flank of calve is shaken by hand, a tinkling and splashing sound may be heard
50-60% cases die
what can be seen on PM with abomasitis/abomasal bloat (6)
- gas filled and inflamed abomasum
- the abomasum contains foul smelling, sour clots of milk
- Bile reflux from small intestine may impart a greenish colour to the abomasal contents
- Hemorrhage from the abomasal lining, however may cause the contents to become rust-coloured or even black
- The inflammation evident in the abomasal wall is the finding that prompts many to term this disease ‘abomasitis’
- Ulcers may be visible in the abomasal wall and occasionally these perforate to release abomasal contents into the abdominal cavity, resulting in peritonitis
what are risk factors of abomasitis/abomasal bloat
Factors that promote anaerobic environment and the presence of bacteria (usually Clostridium perfringens but sometimes Sarcina ventriculi)
Erratic feeding schedules
Contaminated milk or colostrum
High incidence of FPT
Inadequate water (which is worryingly common)
Hyperconcentrated or inadequate milk replacer mixing
