PATHOLOGY - Ill thrift in Youngstock Cattle Flashcards
What is the clinical approach to ill thrift in cattle youngstock?
- History
- Clinical examination
- Differential diagnoses
- Plan
- Follow up
Which history questions are particularly beneficial when investigating ill thrift in youngstock cattle?
Management?
Diet?
Preventative medications?
Vaccination history?
Individual animal affected or group affected?
Housed or on pasture?
What are some of the key differences between housed and grazing cattle which could help to guide your differential diagnoses?
- Grazing cattle usually have reduced infectious disease challenge than in housed cattle
- Grazing cattle are more challenging to observe than housed cattle so disease may progress further before being noticed
- Nutrition provisions can be variable for both housed and grazing cattle
What are the differential diagnoses for ill thrift in young stock out on grass?
Clostridial disease
Ruminal bloat
Parasitic gastroeneritis
Liver fluke
Lung worm
Mineral deficiency
Which clostridial species can cause ill thrift in youngstock cattle?
Clostridium botulinum
Clostridium tetani
What is the key difference between clostridium botulinum compared to other clostridial diseases?
Clostridium botulinum in livestock is due to the direct ingestion of botulism toxin from the environment, whereas other clostridial diseases are due to the production of toxins by the clostridia bacteria within the body of the animal
What are the key risk factors for clostridium botulinum?
Rotting vegetation and carcasses. Clostridium botulinum is classically associated with the use of poultry litter fertiliser used on grazing pasture as it can contain rotting poultry carcasses where clostridium botulinum can proliferate and produce botulinum toxin which then leaches into the grass and is ingested at grazing
What are the clinical signs of botulism in cattle?
Flaccid paralysis
Dysphagia
Tongue hangs out
Vert thirsty (due to flaccid paralysis preventing swallowing)
Recumbency
Progressive clinical signs
How can you diagnose botulism in cattle?
Botulism is a diagnosis of exclusion, be aware it is uncommon however there are increasing reports. Be aware that if you diagnose botulism you should notify the animal health office as these animals won’t be able to enter the food chain for a certain period of time
How can you treat botulism in cattle?
Oral fluid therapy
Supportive care
What is the pathogenesis of clostridium tetani?
Clostridium tetani spores enter wounds and proliferate within anaerobic environments where they will produce tetanus toxin which causes spasmodic muscle contraction and rigid paralysis
What are the clinical signs of tetanus in cattle?
Rigid paralysis
Ruminal bloat
Hyperaesthesia
Dysphagia
Raised tail head
Progressive clinical signs
How can you diagnose tetanus in cattle?
History (must be history of open wound)
Clinical signs
Clinical examination
How can you treat tetanus in cattle?
How can you prevent tetanus in cattle?
Vaccination
What are the differential diagnoses for ill thrift in young stock that are housed?
Bovine respiratory disease
Ringworm
Coccidiosis
Chronic ruminal bloat
Inadequate nutrition
Which pathogen causes ringworm?
Very common in housed cattle
Trichophyton verrucosum
Fungus
How do you treat ringworm in cattle?
Ringworm is usually not treated and resolves with age related immunity and turnout. However you can treat with topical enilconazole
What can cause primary chronic ruminal bloat?
Primary chronic ruminal bloat is a gastrointestinal motility disorder, which may be related to poor weaning management
What is a common cause of secondary chronic ruminal bloat?
Papillomas
How do you manage chronic bloat?
Rumen trocharisation, leaving the trocar in situ for 3 to 4 weeks
Investigate feeding management and potential underlying causes
What are the differential diagnoses for ill thrift in youngstock cattle that can occur at anytime?
These conditions are usually seen in individuals rather than groups
Sporadic bovine leucosis (SBL)
Papillomas
Osteochondritis dessicans
Bovine papular stomatitis
Coccidiosis
Bovine diarrhoea virus
Congenital abnormalities
