Neonatal septicaemia and meningitis in calves Flashcards
1
Q
Meningitis
A
- inflammation of 1 or more of the 3 covering layers of the meninges (dura mater, arachnoid, and Pia mater) in the CNS
2
Q
Mortality for neonatal septicaemia & meningitis
A
- invariably high for both conditions
3
Q
Neonatal septicaemia/sepsis
A
- term used to describe new born calves with a systemic infection
4
Q
Age predisposition
A
- normally within the 1st few days of life but older calves of 2-3w may become septicaemic following compromise of intestinal mucosa attributed to enteric pathogen colonisation and infection or from chronically infective focus
5
Q
Public health considerations
A
- E.coli and other causal agents e.g. Salmonella are zoonotic
6
Q
Cost considerations
A
- intensive tx and hospitalisation of affected calves
7
Q
Special risks
A
- pts high compromised and so no further interventions should be undertaken until sepsis is resolved
8
Q
Aetiology
A
- neonatal calves are born reliant on ingestion of adequate volume of high quality colostrum
- inadequate colostrum supply serves as a major risk factor for the development of neonatal septicaemia and associated meningitis, this is particularly so for those calves born to heavily contaminated environments
- E.coli has been found primarily responsible for neonatal septicaemia in bovine
- Salmonella spp will also cause clinical dz
9
Q
Predisposing factors
A
- born into highly contaminated, unhygienic environment
- FPT
- omphalophlebitis (inflammation of the umbilicus/umbilical vein)
- septic arthritis
10
Q
Pathophysiology
A
- calves born to heavily contaminated environments are susceptible to dz
- entry of pathogenic bacteria can occur in utero, during calving or shortly after birth
- entry points including resp epithelium, oropharynx, nasopharynx, umbilicus and intestines via the faecal oral route
- in the 1st postnatal hours, non-specific pinocytosis allowing immunoglobulin entry may also allow bacterial entry to the systemic circulation and so this is a common route of infection
- older calves 2/3w can succumb to sepsis or meningitis from a chronic septic focus such as joint infection or omphalophlebitis
11
Q
Timeline
A
- clinical signs usually commence within 24h of pathogen entry
- duration of CS dependent on infective load, degree of passive transfer and time to instigate therapy
- return to clinical normality will normally be a number of days
12
Q
History
A
- sudden onset depression
- loss of suckle reflex
- lethargy
- recumbency
- increased neonatal calf morbidity and mortality
13
Q
Clinical signs
A
- depression
- loss of suckle reflex
- hypopyon & blindness
- pyrexia
- hyperesthesia
- scleral injection
- congested mm
- increased CRT
- cold extremities
- progression to collapse
- tonic clonic seizure activity
- coma
- death
14
Q
Diagnostic investigation
A
- CS consistent with dz
- presence of septic focus on CE e.g. septic arthritis or omphalophlebitis
- evidence of FPT
15
Q
Definitive diagnostic features
A
- septicaemia: blood or other body fluid culture, e.g. joint fluid
- meningitis: abnormal CSF, e.g. neutrophilic (often as high as 80%) and marked elevation in nucleated cells and protein content taken from LS space
