Neurological disease of cattle Flashcards

1
Q

What part of the CNS is responsible for conscious functions?

A

Brain

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2
Q

What part of the CNS is responsible for cranial nerve functions and breathing?

A

Brainstem and cranial nerves

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3
Q

What part of the CNS is responsible for unconscious control of proprioceptive functions and coordination/smoothing of movements?

A

Cerebellum

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4
Q

What part of the CNS is responsible for limb movement and strength?

A

Spinal cord

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5
Q

Carrying limbs suggests what type of problem - orthopaedic or neurological?

A

Orthopaedic

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6
Q

Dragging limbs suggests what type of problem - orthopaedic or neurological?

A

Neurological

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7
Q

Shortened stride/step suggests what type of problem - orthopaedic or neurological?

A

Orthopaedic

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8
Q

Increased step length suggests what type of problem - orthopaedic or neurological?

A

Neurological

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9
Q

Circling usually indicates a lesion in what part of the CNS?

A

Brain

Asymmetrical cortex lesion

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10
Q

Falling over usually indicates a problem in what part of the CNS?

A

Cerebellum

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11
Q

Head-pressing normally indicates what problem?

A

Increased cranial pressure

Or encephalitis

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12
Q

What is the difference between tremors and spasms?

A

Tremors - rapid contractions of muscle groups AND their antagonists
Spasm - sudden intense contractions of muscle groups

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13
Q

What is extended muscle cramp called?

A

Tetanus

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14
Q

What is spasticity? What lesions does it occur with?

A

Increased muscle tone

Brain stem or spinal cord lesions

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15
Q

What is the difference between paresis and paralysis?

A

Paresis - still able to move (but weakened movements)

Paralysis - unable to move

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16
Q

What can be used to percuss the head, vertebrae and pelvis?

A

Finger - head
Fist - vertebrae in neck
Percussion hammer -rest of vertebrae and pelvis

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17
Q

If blindness occurs due to a lesion in the cortex, how are the menace response and iris reflexes affected?

A

No menace response

Iris reflex normal

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18
Q

What is the palate reflex?

A

Pressing palate

Normal response is palate should open

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19
Q

What nerve does the palate reflex and jaw drop test?

A

Trigeminal nerve

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20
Q

If a cow cannot close one eyelid, has a lower lip hanging and cannot close one side of their mouth, what cranial nerve is most likely to be affected?

A

Facial nerve

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21
Q

What is the anal reflex?

A

Thermometer in rectum - should case contraction of external anal sphincter

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22
Q

The patella reflex and radoiocarpal extensor reflex should be checked in what age cows?

A

Calves

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23
Q

What is the scrotal reflex?

A

Touching scrotal skin

Would expect skin to wrinkle

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24
Q

What should happen if you pinch a cow’s skin between their claws?

A

Should bend leg

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25
Q

When a cow’s head is moved, what should happen in regards to their eye movement?

A

Move opposite way

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26
Q

What is the conscious and proprioceptive neurological test?

A

Walk towards small obstacle
Conscious - should lift leg
Unconscious - wearing a blindfold, should lift leg when arrives near obstacle

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27
Q

When getting up, do cattle get onto their forelimbs or hindlimb first?

A

Hindlimbs

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28
Q

Are brain tumours acute or chronic?

A

Chronic

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29
Q

What clinical signs would you expect to see with a cortical lesion?

A
Ataxia
Proprioceptive deficits
Blindness
Circling
Nystagmus
Changes in behaviour
Head pressing (raised ICP, encephalitis)
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30
Q

What clinical signs would you expect to cerebellar brain lesion?

A
Imbalanced
Wide based stance
Head tilt
Dysmetria
Nystagmus
Hyperaesthesia
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31
Q

What is the most common cause of meningitis in calves? What age cows are affected?

A

1 week old calves

Lack of colostrum

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32
Q

A 1 week old calve is head pressing. What would you expect to be the most likely diagnosis?

A

Meningitis

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33
Q

What is the treatment and prognosis for meningitis?

A

IV antibiotics
Dexamethasone
(Poor prognosis)

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34
Q

Penicillin is ineffective to what pathogens?

A

Gram negative bacteria

Do not use if suspected E. coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella

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35
Q

Brain abscesses are mostly caused by what pathogen?

A

Arcanobacterium pyogenes

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36
Q

With a brain abscess, is the head tilt towards are away from the lesion?

A

Head tilt TOWARDS lesion

37
Q

What is hydrocephalus also known as? What is it?

A

Occasional acute cortical disease

Failure of CSF drainage caused increased ICP

38
Q

What breeds are predisposed to hydrocephalus (occasional acute cortical disease)?

A

Holstein
Jersey
Fresian
Guernsey

39
Q

What are the clinical signs of hydrocephalus?

A

Domed cranium

Diffuse cerebral signs - inc head pressing

40
Q

What causes CCN?

A

Thiamine (B1) deficiency

Causes necrosis of the GREY matter

41
Q

What age is most commonly affected by CCN?

A

6-18 months old

Young cattle

42
Q

What are some clinical signs you would expect to see with CCN?

A

Star-gazing
Blindness
Diarrhoea

43
Q

How is CCN diagnosed?

A

History, clin signs, response to treatent
Blood thiaminase assay
Post mortem - yellow patches, fluorescence under UV light

44
Q

On a post-mortem of a cow with CCN, what brain changes would you expect to see?

A

Yellow pigment - lipofuscin

Fluorescence under UV light

45
Q

How is CCN treated in cattle?

A

Thiamine (B1)
Corticosteroids
Thiamine supplemented ration, introduce concentrates slowly

46
Q

Which age of cattle is lead poisoning most common in?

A

Young - due to curious nature

47
Q

Lead poisoning in cows causes what CNS problem?

A

ACUTE encephalopathy

Cerebral and GI signs

48
Q

How is lead poisoning in cattle treated?

A

Pentobarbitone - control seizures
Chelate lead
Thiamine
Oral magnesium sulphate (precipitates lead from GIT)

49
Q

Why may you consider euthanasia over treatment in the case of lead poisoning?

A

Poor prognosis

6-7 months to return to milk/meat being suitable for consumption (contact APHA)

50
Q

What causes nervous ketosis?

A

Negative energy balance

Causes rapidly mobilising of adipose tissue - nonsterified fatty acids in blood

51
Q

How long and often do the signs of nervous ketosis last?

A

Last 1-2 hours

Occur at 10 hourly intervals

52
Q

How is nervous ketosis treated?

A

Dextrose IV
Propylene glycol (used to treat ketosis)
Corticosteroids

53
Q

Hypomagnesaemia is especially seen in which type of cattle?

A

Pastured lactating beef cows on pasture

Magnesium excreted in milk - at risk if calved within past few months

54
Q

What are the causes of salt poisoning? What CNS problem does it cause?

A

Too much salt or water deprivation

Sodium deposition in the brain - may increased intracranial pressure

55
Q

How is salt poisoning treated?

A

Rehydrate, then use hypertonic saline (otherwise increase ICP)

56
Q

What is Pseudorabies also known as?

A

Aujezsky’s, Mad itch

57
Q

For pseudorabies to be suspected in cattle, which other species must they have been in contact with?

A

Pigs

58
Q

Which of the following suspected disease requires APHA to be contacted: rabies, pseudorabies or both?

A

Both

59
Q

Is Pseudorabies often fatal?

A

Yes - within 2 days

60
Q

BSE (Mad cow disease) causes prion protein accumulation within what part of the CNS? What is it associated with?

A

Neurones

Foodstuff containing meat and bone meal

61
Q

Is BSE notifiable?

A

Yes

62
Q

How is BSE diagnosed?

A

Post-mortem only (histopath)

No test for live animals as long incubation period only

63
Q

Hypovitaminosis A is associated with what based diets?

A

Straw or cereal based

64
Q

What is the most obvious clinical signs associated with hypovitaminosis A?

A

Blindness

65
Q

What is the treatment for hypovitaminosis A? Is the response to treatment usually good?

A

Daily vitamin A

Yes - response good within 48 hrs, even in fitting animals

66
Q

Cerebellar hypoplasia can be congenital or acquired. What breeds is it congenital in?

A

Holstein, Guernsey, Shorthorn, Herefrods, Ayrshire

67
Q

Cerebellar hypoplasia can be congenital or acquired. What disease causes acquired cerebellar hypoplasia?

A

BVD

68
Q

Listeriosis is caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Is it an environmental or contagious pathogen? What is associated with?

A

Environmental

Poor quality silage, fermentation, soil contamination

69
Q

Listeriosis infection starts in conjunctiva, face and mouth and travels to the brainstem via which nerve?

A

Trigeminal

70
Q

What affect does listeriosis have on the CNS?

A

Causes micro abscesses
In brainstem, cerebellum and spinal cord
May progress to meningioencephalitis

71
Q

What are some classic clinical signs of listeriosis?

A

Protruding tongue
Facial paralysis - 3rd eyelid prolapse
Ptosis, drooping of ear on one side
Loss of lip/cheek muscle town - difficulty eating, saliva

72
Q

How is listeriosis commonly treated?

A

Remove underlying cause
(silage)
High doses of penicillin or oxytetracycline

73
Q

Spinal factures are most common in what age calves?

A

3-6 months old

74
Q

What are spinal abscesses usually secondary to in cattle?

A

Osteomyleitis of vertebrae

75
Q

Give examples of possible bacteria that may be present in a spinal abscess

A

Arcanobacterium progenies
Staph aureus
Pasteruella haemolytica
Fusobacterium necrophorum

76
Q

Spastic paresis is most often seen in what muscle group?

A

Extensor muscles of the hindlimbs

77
Q

What age cows are usually affected by spastic paresis?

A

Calves - few weeks to 6 months old

78
Q

What are the clinical signs of spastic paresis in cattle?

A

Asymmetric spasticity
Hypertonia of extensor HL muscles (continuous when standing, not when laying down) extended hock
XS tone of gastrocnemius
Walking with pendulum motion

79
Q

How is spastic paresis treated?

A

Neurectomy of tibial nerve rootlets innervating gastrocnemius
If bilateral leave 6-10 wks between surgeries

80
Q

What causes tetanus in cattle?

A

Exotoxins produced by Clostridium tetani

Spores enter wounds

81
Q

What are the clinical signs of tetanus in cattle?

A

Extended head posture
Extensive facial tone
Stiff, raised tail
Legs rigidly extended

82
Q

How is tetanus prevented and treated?

A

Prevented by vaccination

Tx: antitoxin (if early), high doses of penicillin, muscle relaxants?

83
Q

Botulism (Clostridium botulinum) is often associated with what?

A

Poultry waste/litter/carcasses

In pasture or feed

84
Q

What are the clinical signs of botulism?

A

Anorexia, mydriasis
Xs drooling, drooping tongue
Ruminal bloat and decrease mobility
Respiratory failure - death

85
Q

What is the prognosis of botulism in cattle? How is it treated?

A

Prognosis poor - may recover if caught early

Supportive Tx, purgatives to remove toxins, fluids

86
Q

What nerve is commonly damaged by XS foetal pressure following dystocia (especially in heifers)?

A

Obturator nerve

87
Q

What is the main clinical signs of obturator neuropathies in cattle? How is this treated?

A

Unable to adduct limbs - splits

treatment with chained HLs, soft bedding, corticosteroids

88
Q

What nerve is commonly damaged due to a falling or recumbent cow?

A

Perineal branch of sciatic nerve or sciatic nerve

Self-cures, cast-fetlock to prevent self trauma