Neonatal Calf GI Disease

Question 1

What percentage of calf deaths in the first 6 weeks of life are scour related?

Answer 1

40%

Question 2

What is the cause of death of scour?

Answer 2

Dehydration and acidosis

Question 3

Name 4 things that can cause Diarrhoea in calves

Answer 3

Rotavirus/ Coronavirus
E.coli/ F5
Salmonella
Clostridium Perfringens

Question 4

What causes cryptosporidium?

Answer 4

Environmental pressures
Excreted oocysts immediately infective

Question 5

What is malabsorptive diarrhoea?

Answer 5

Crypto (villi), corona (villi), clostridium (mucosal necrosis), BVD (crypts)
Rate of cell loss higher than cell replacement
Reduction in small intestinal surface area for enzyme digestion and absorption
of water and nutrients
osmotic diarrhoea

Question 6

What is hypersecretory diarrhoea?

Answer 6

E.coli (villi damage as well), salmonella
Pathogen secretes enterotoxin
Chloride channels open
Net secretion of chloride, sodium and water into intestinal lumen
Overwhelms the absorptive capacity of the large intestine so increased fluid
content of faeces

Question 7

What is the end result of diarrhoea?

Answer 7

Dehydration and metabolic acidosis from either an electrolyte imbalance or D-lactate build up

Question 8

What is D-lactate acidosis?

Answer 8

Calves with diarrhoea have damage to the intestinal enterocytes
allows undigested carbohydrates to reach the large intestine
-> acidification
D-lactate is also produced following ruminal drinking of milk, although at lower levels

Question 9

What are the clinical signs of D-lactaemia?

Answer 9

Decreased palpebral reflex, broad based stance and ataxic movements due to direct toxic effects on the brain

Question 10

What D-lactate acidosis signs are associated with dehydration?

Answer 10

reduced suckle reflex, enopthalmus, increased skin tent

Question 11

How does Diarrhoea cause hyper K+?

Answer 11

acidaeamia induced dysregulation of internal K+ balance

Question 12

What does hyperkalaemia cause?

Answer 12

Neuromuscular excitability and muscular weakness

Question 13

What are the diagnostics for diarrhoea?

Answer 13

• Impossible to tell the exact cause of scours based on clinical signs
  and the nature of the scour alone.
• Rapid on farm diagnostics on faeces (“Rainbow test”)
  ELISA
• Lab PCR
• Faecal egg counts
• Haematology/ Biochem

Question 14

What is a first generation oral fluid?

Answer 14

sodium, potassium and (insufficient) glucose.
effective in treating dehydration associated with scour but cannot correct acidosis.

Question 15

What is a second generation oral fluid?

Answer 15

contain bicarbonate or bicarbonate precursor such as lactate, propionate or citrate
very effective at treating dehydration and acidosis
do not provide any energy to the calf

Question 16

What is a third generation oral fluid?

Answer 16

contain much higher concentrations of glucose to counter the energy deficit when milk
feeding is stopped during treatment.

Question 17

What is a fourth generation oral fluid?

Answer 17

contain amino acid glutamine.
used as both an energy source, as well as for protein synthesis, to facilitate sodium
absorption from the small intestine and to help sustain the intestinal villus form and
function.

Question 18

What are the two forms of calf diptheria?

Answer 18

Necrotic stomatitis
Necrotic laryngitis

Question 19

What are the clinical signs of calf diptheria?

Answer 19

external swelling on the side of the mandible, or a lesion on
the tongue. Foul smelling breathe, Cough, pyrexia, difficulty swallowing

Question 20

How would you diagnose calf diptheria?

Answer 20

Visual inspection of the oral cavity +/- speculum and light to
visualise the larynx.

Question 21

How would you treat calf diptheria?

Answer 21

Necrotic stomatitis - systemic administration of beta lactams
Necrotic laryngitis - extended AB course 2-3 weeks

Question 22

What are the risk factors for calf diptheria?

Answer 22

Unhygienic environment, dirty shared feeding
vessels, dry rough grazing or forage, erupting teeth, calves
suffering from other concurrent upper respiratory diseases

Question 23

What is rumenal tympany/ Bloat?

Answer 23

• Accumulation of gas in the rumen
• most commonly seen 1–2 hours after feeding milk
  often associated with a pasty scour and bouts of colic
• Caused by feeding errors that lead to incomplete oesophageal groove
  closure.
  Incorrect temperature, bucket feeding, incorrect concentration
• Milk entering the rumen ferments and produces bloat with severe colic
• Also gorging on concentrates

Question 24

What is atresia ani?

Answer 24

• Congenital absence of anus
• Lack of faeces
• Gradual development of abdominal distension
• Calves develop colic after ~3 days
• If rectum is present, there may be a soft bulge from pressure of
  accumulated faeces
  Can attempt treatment by incision

Question 25

What is atresia coli?

Answer 25

• Congenital intestinal aplasia and stenosis
• Calf develops progressive abdominal distension and colic.
• No Treatment - euthanasia