PATHOLOGY - Calf Diseases Flashcards
What are some of the common diseases seen in calves?
Umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)
Septic arthritis (‘joint ill’)
Septicaemia
Meningitis
Mineral deficiencies
Pneumonia
Ruminal drinking
Abomasitis and abomasal bloat
What are the three anatomical components of the calf umbilicus?
Urachus
Umbilical vein
Umbilical artery
What is omphalitis?
Omphalitis is the infection of the umbilicus
What is omphaloarteritis?
Omphaloarteritis is the infection of the umbilical artery
What is omphalophlebitis?
Omphalophlebitis is the infection of the umbilical vein
What are the risk factors for umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)?
Poor management of the umbilicus
Dirty environment
Failure of passive transfer
What are the clinical signs of an umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)?
Hot, swollen and painful umbilicus
± Pustulent discharge
± Lameness
± Systemic clinical signs
What can cause lameness associated with an umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)?
An umbilical infection (‘naval ill’) can result in bacteriaemia and secondary septic arthritis (‘joint ill’) which can manifest as lameness
How do you treat an umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)?
2 to 3 week course of broad spectrum antibiotics
What are the potential consequences of an umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)?
Abcessation
Septicaemia
Septic arthritis (‘joint ill’)
Hypopyon
Which organ is usually affected by abcessation secondary to an umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)?
Liver abcessation
What is hypopyon?
Hypopyon is the accumulation of pus in the anterior chamber of the eye
How can you prevent umbilical infections (‘naval ill’) in calves?
Iodine dip the umbilicus
Environmental management
Colostrum management
Which condition can present similarly to an umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)?
Umbilical hernia
How do you differentiate an umbilical hernia from an umbilical infection?
An umbilical hernia is a congenital condition which will have a palpable hernial ring and is generally not hot or painful
How do you treat an umbilical hernia?
Umbilical hernias should resolve by themselves however may require surgical repair if they persist
What is the prognosis for an umbilical hernia?
Do not breed from these cattle as this is a hereditary condition
What are the clinical signs of septic arthritis (‘joint ill’) in calves?
One to multiple joint swellings
Lameness
Pyrexia
± Clinical signs of an umbilical infection (‘naval ill’)
How do you treat septic arthritis (‘joint ill’)?
3 weeks of broad spectrum antibiotics, preferably intravenously
NSAIDs
What is the prognosis for septic arthritis (‘joint ill’) in calves?
Poor prognosis
What is septicaemia?
Septicaemia is the systemic response associated with the presence of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in the blood
Describe briefly the pathogenesis of septicaemia
In response to pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins within the bloodm there will be a systemic inflammatory response which will trigger the release of imflammatory mediators and activation of the coagulation cascade resulting in endothelial cell dysfunction and microvascular thrombosis. This will result in an imbalance between oxygen consumption and delivery resulting in tissue hypoperfusion, ischaemia and organ dysfunction. This will progress to refractory hypotension, multi-system organ failure and death
Which pathogens are the most common cause of septicaemia in calves?
E. coli
Salmonella
What are the risk factors for septicaemia in calves?
Dirty environment
Failure of passive transfer
What are the clinical signs of septicaemia in calves?
Sudden death
Depression
Decreased suckling reflex
Pyrexia or hypothermia
Tachycardia
Tachypnoea
Mucous membrane congestion
Clinical signs of localised infection
How do you treat sepiocaemia in calves?
Intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics
NSAIDs
Supportive treatment
What is the prognosis for septicaemia in calves?
Poor prognosis
What is meningitis commonly secondary to in calves?
Septicaemia
Pneumonia
What are the clinical signs of meningitis in calves?
Depression
Decreased suckling reflex
Pyrexia
Head pressing
Opisothotonous posturing
Ataxia
Blindness
Hyperaesthesia
Which condition can have a very similar clinical presentation to meningitis in calves?
Vitamin B1 deficiency
How do you treat meningitis in calves?
2 week course of antibiotics which can cross the blood brain barrier
NSAIDs
Sedation (calf will be very stressed)
What is the prognosis of meningitis in calves?
Poor prognosis
How does a selenium or vitamin E deficiency present in calves?
A selenium or vitamin E deficiency in calves results in a decreased immune response, predisposes to retained foetal membranes and causes white muscle disease
How does an iodine deficiency present in calves?
An iodine deficiency results in decreased thyroid hormone production which will result in a decreased metabolic rate as well as present as goitre
How does a vitamin A deficiency present in calves?
A vitamin A deficiency can result in blindness and stillborn or weak calves
What are the two main causes of aspiration pneumonia in calves?
Tube feeding
Aspirating meconium due to a difficult calving
What is the oesophageal reflex in calves?
In normal calves, suckling stimulates the closure of the oesophageal groove which directs ingested milk into the abomasum, bypassing the rumen. This prevents the fermentation of the milk in the rumen which is essential for the neonatal calf to gain maximum nutrition from the milk
What is ruminal drinking?
Ruminal drinking refers to the condition where there is a failure of the oesophageal reflex and milk is directed into the rumen instead of being directed into the abomasum for digestion
What are some of the risk factors for oesophageal groove failure and ruminal drinking?
Inconsistent milk feeding schedule
Poor quality milk replacer
What are the clinical signs of ruminal drinking?
Ruminal bloat
Failure to thrive
Poor growth rates
Decreased appetite
Pot-belly
Clinical signs of metabolic acidosis
How do you treat ruminal drinking?
If calves are close to weaning, then you can stop feeding milk and instead feed them good quality hay and concentrates. If they are too young to stop feeding milk, try to reinstate the oesophageal groove reflex by promoting suckling
What is the typical signalement for abomasitis and abomasal bloat?
Abomasitis and abomasal bloat is typically seen in calves less than 3 weeks old
What increases the risk of abomasitis and abomasal bloat in calves?
The risk of abomasitis and abomasal bloat in calves is increased by any factor which promotes the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria within the abomasum (i.e. clostridium perfringens)
What are the risk factors for abomasitis and abomasal bloat in calves?
Inconsistent milk feeding schedule
Failure of passive transfer
Contaminated milk or colostrum
Inadequate fresh clean water
Hyperconcentrated milk replacer
What are the clinical signs of abomasitis and abomasal bloat?
Abdominal distension
Depression
Colic
Teeth grinding
Hypersalivation
What should you do if presented with a calf with a congenital disease?
Investigate the dam to see if there could have been any teratogens which could have resulted in this congenital disease and investigate the sire bull. You will have to report this to prevent furthering breeding of these individuals
