scholarly journals Dairy calf pneumonia: Effective treatment depends on early and accurate diagnosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 63 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 177-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Panousis

Dairy calf pneumonia is one of the most economically important diseases of calves. A delayed diagnosis could result endemic herd problem, prolonged use of antibiotics, high recurrence rate, pulmonary abscessation and ear infections. The key for effective control is the early detection of pneumonia and the accurate diagnosis of the etiologic factor. For the early detection, a respiratory disease score was assigned based on rectal temperature, character of nasal discharge, eye discharge or ear appearance, and presence of a cough. Each clinical sign has a point scale from 0 (normal) to 4 (severe). The respiratory disease score is the sum of points from the 4 categories of clinical signs, with increasing values representing progressive severity. The scoring system results in a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 12. Calves with score 5 or higher, having at least 2 clinical signs of respiratory disease, are considered sick and have to be treated. For the accurate diagnosis of the etiological agent the best tool in a live calf is bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collection. Sampling of severely affected animals should be avoided. New acute cases are ideal. BAL is performed in sedated calves using a sterilized, flexible catheter with a 5-cc balloon cuff. The fresh BAL fluid sample is processed within 2 hours of collection or refrigerated until analysis. Part of the sample is used for microbiology and the remaining is submitted for cytology. BAL fluid that yields homogenous (>106 CFU/ml) bacterial or positive Mycoplasma bovis culture is considered abnormal. A disproportionate lowering of macrophages (<61%) or elevation of neutrophils (>39%) provides evidence of an inflammatory response with or without a positive culture. The ideal antibiotic selection would be based on the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of lung pathogens after BAL fluid culture.

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila M. McGuirk ◽  
Simon F. Peek

AbstractRespiratory disease of young dairy calves is a significant cause of morbidity, mortality, economic loss, and animal welfare concern but there is no gold standard diagnostic test for antemortem diagnosis. Clinical signs typically used to make a diagnosis of respiratory disease of calves are fever, cough, ocular or nasal discharge, abnormal breathing, and auscultation of abnormal lung sounds. Unfortunately, routine screening of calves for respiratory disease on the farm is rarely performed and until more comprehensive, practical and affordable respiratory disease-screening tools such as accelerometers, pedometers, appetite monitors, feed consumption detection systems, remote temperature recording devices, radiant heat detectors, electronic stethoscopes, and thoracic ultrasound are validated, timely diagnosis of respiratory disease can be facilitated using a standardized scoring system. We have developed a scoring system that attributes severity scores to each of four clinical parameters; rectal temperature, cough, nasal discharge, ocular discharge or ear position. A total respiratory score of five points or higher (provided that at least two abnormal parameters are observed) can be used to distinguish affected from unaffected calves. This can be applied as a screening tool twice-weekly to identify pre-weaned calves with respiratory disease thereby facilitating early detection. Coupled with effective treatment protocols, this scoring system will reduce post-weaning pneumonia, chronic pneumonia, and otitis media.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu Suk Lee ◽  
Vuong Nghia Bui ◽  
Duy Tung Dao ◽  
Ngoc Anh Bui ◽  
Thanh Duy Le ◽  
...  

Abstract Background African swine fever (ASF), caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), was first reported in Vietnam in 2019 and spread rapidly thereafter. Better insights into ASFV characteristics and early detection by surveillance could help control its spread. However, the pathogenicity and methods for early detection of ASFV isolates from Vietnam have not been established. Therefore, we investigated the pathogenicity of ASFV and explored alternative sampling methods for early detection. Results Ten pigs were intramuscularly inoculated with an ASFV strain from Vietnam (titer, 103.5 HAD50/mL), and their temperature, clinical signs, and virus excretion patterns were recorded. In addition, herd and environmental samples were collected daily. The pigs died 5–8 days-post-inoculation (dpi), and the incubation period was 3.7 ± 0.5 dpi. ASFV genome was first detected in the blood (2.2 ± 0.8) and then in rectal (3.1 ± 0.7), nasal (3.2 ± 0.4), and oral (3.6 ± 0.7 dpi) swab samples. ASFV was detected in oral fluid samples collected using a chewed rope from 3 dpi. The liver showed the highest viral loads, and ear tissue also exhibited high viral loads among 11 tissues obtained from dead pigs. Overall, ASFV from Vietnam was classified as peracute to acute form. The rope-based oral fluid collection method could be useful for early ASFV detection and allows successful ASF surveillance in large pig farms. Furthermore, ear tissue samples might be a simple alternative specimen for diagnosing ASF infection in dead pigs. Conclusions Our data provide valuable insights into the characteristics of a typical ASFV strain isolated in Vietnam and suggest an alternative, non-invasive specimen collection strategy for early detection.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (12) ◽  
pp. 5636-5642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Ferguson ◽  
Alicia K. Olivier ◽  
Suzanne Genova ◽  
William B. Epperson ◽  
David R. Smith ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCattle have been proposed as the natural reservoir of a novel member of the virus familyOrthomyxoviridae, which has been tentatively classified as influenza D virus (IDV). Although isolated from sick animals, it is unclear whether IDV causes any clinical disease in cattle. To address this aspect of Koch's postulates, three dairy calves (treatment animals) held in individual pens were inoculated intranasally with IDV strain D/bovine/Mississippi/C00046N/2014. At 1 day postinoculation, a seronegative calf (contact animal) was added to each of the treatment animal pens. The cattle in both treatment and contact groups seroconverted, and virus was detected in their respiratory tracts. Histologically, there was a significant increase in neutrophil tracking in tracheal epithelia of the treatment calves compared to control animals. While infected and contact animals demonstrated various symptoms of respiratory tract infection, they were mild, and the calves in the treatment group did not differ from the controls in terms of heart rate, respiratory rate, or rectal temperature. To mimic zoonotic transmission, two ferrets were exposed to a plastic toy fomite soaked with infected nasal discharge from the treatment calves. These ferrets did not shed the virus or seroconvert. In summary, this study demonstrates that IDV causes a mild respiratory disease upon experimental infection of cattle and can be transmitted effectively among cattle by in-pen contact, but not from cattle to ferrets through fomite exposure. These findings support the hypothesis that cattle are a natural reservoir for the virus.IMPORTANCEA novel influenza virus, tentatively classified as influenza D virus (IDV), was identified in swine, cattle, sheep, and goats. Among these hosts, cattle have been proposed as the natural reservoir. In this study, we show that cattle experimentally infected with IDV can shed virus and transmit it to other cattle through direct contact, but not to ferrets through fomite routes. IDV caused minor clinical signs in the infected cattle, fulfilling another of Koch's postulates for this novel agent, although other objective clinical endpoints were not different from those of control animals. Although the disease observed was mild, IDV induced neutrophil tracking and epithelial attenuation in cattle trachea, which could facilitate coinfection with other pathogens, and in doing so, predispose animals to bovine respiratory disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 796-801
Author(s):  
Mariane F. Franco ◽  
Natália C. Gaeta ◽  
Mario A.R. Alemán ◽  
Priscilla A. Mellville ◽  
Jorge Timenetsky ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Respiratory diseases are among the most important diseases in sheep flocks. Herein was studied the bacterial etiology of respiratory disease and the clinical signs of 99 female and male sheep breed in the states of São Paulo (SP) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil. After physical examination of animals, tracheobronchial flushing samples were obtained. The usual bacteria and Mycoplasma spp. were searched, as well as their association with the clinical status and clinical signs of sheep with respiratory disease. The main observed signs were: tachypnea (75%), increase of rectal temperature (09.4%), mucopurulent/purulent nasal discharge (21.9%), cough (25%), dyspnea (31.2%), changes of lung sounds at auscultation (87.5%) and chest percussion (28.1%) in pneumonic sheep. Non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria and Bacillus sp. were the most isolated bacteria. Microorganisms of the Mollicutes class were molecularly (PCR) detected in 33.3% of the animals. In addition, the specific detection of M. mycoides subsp. capri was described for the first time in sheep from the state of São Paulo, Brazil.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhicheng Wang ◽  
Lisha Duan ◽  
Fei Liu ◽  
Yun Hu ◽  
Chaoliang Leng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Enterobacter hormaechei is commonly considered a causative pathogen for nosocomial infections and it does not usually cause diseases in animals. However, researchers have recently dissociated the pathogenic Enterobacter hormaechei from foxes and piglets. Here, the Enterobacter hormaechei was first found to be associated with respiratory disease in unweaned calves in China. Case presentation A 2-month-old calf was severely sick and diagnosed with respiratory infection by a rural veterinarian, and it died 5 days after treatment with penicillin G. The lung sample was then run through histopathological analysis and pathogen isolation. The sequence analysis and biochemical tests results showed the isolated bacterium strain to be Enterobacter hormaechei, and drug sensitivity tests showed resistance to all β-lactam antimicrobials and sensitivity to quinolones. Thickened alveoli septum, inflammatory cell infiltration, and erythrocyte diapedesis around the pulmonary alveoli septum were visible in lung histopathological sections. One week later, at the same farm, another calf showed similar clinical signs, and the Enterobacter hormaechei strain was isolated from its nasal discharge; after a week of treatment with enrofloxacin, as suggested by the results of drug sensitivity tests, this calf fully recovered. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of calves with respiratory disease that was associated with E. hormaechei, and multi-drug resistance was observed in isolates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inmaculada Cuevas-Gómez ◽  
Mark McGee ◽  
Matthew McCabe ◽  
Paul Cormican ◽  
Edward O’Riordan ◽  
...  

Abstract This study investigated 1) the effect of clinical bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and associated lung consolidations on growth performance and hematological profiles of recently weaned beef calves and 2) the relationship between clinical respiratory signs and lung consolidation detected by thoracic ultrasonography (TUS). One hundred and fifty-three weaned beef calves (209 days old [SD: 35.8] and 306 kg [SD: 26.3], at arrival) purchased and transported from auction markets were accommodated indoors in concrete slatted floor pens. Calves were weighed weekly from arrival until day 28 and on day 65 post-arrival. Assessment of BRD and blood sample collection for hematological profiles were performed on scheduled days (at arrival, on days 7, 14, and 28) and on other days upon BRD diagnosis. Animals were assessed for BRD using a total clinical respiratory score (CRS) of five clinical signs (rectal temperature, ear position, cough, nasal secretion, and eye secretion with each ranging from normal [0] to abnormal [3]) and TUS scores (normal [0] to lung consolidation ≥ 1 cm2 [2]). Based on CRS, 35% of calves were CRS+ (CRS ≥ 5) and 65% were CRS− (CRS &lt; 5). Although no lung consolidations (TUS−) were detected at arrival, 34% of calves developed lung consolidation (≥1 cm2) (TUS+) during the first 28 d post-arrival. Only fever (&gt;39.6 °C) and nasal discharge were weakly associated (r = 0.19, P &lt;0.05) with lung consolidation. On the day of BRD detection, neutrophil number and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were 58% and 73% greater, respectively, in BRD calves with lung consolidation compared with healthy calves. From day 0 to 65, calf average daily gain (ADG) did not differ (P &gt;0.05) between CRS+ and CRS− calves but was 0.09 kg/d lower (P &lt; 0.05) for TUS+ compared with TUS− calves. Calves classified as BRD (CRS + TUS ≥ 5) with lung consolidation had lower (P &lt; 0.05) ADG from arrival until day 28 than healthy calves and BRD calves without lung consolidation (0.11 ± 0.10 vs. 0.53 ± 0.07 vs. 0.57 ± 0.10 kg/d, respectively); however, no differences in ADG were observed from day 0 to 65. Conventional methods to diagnose BRD failed to detect calves with lung lesions. TUS is a useful tool to detect lung lesions and its implementation in combination with CRS should provide a more accurate and early diagnosis of BRD, which is fundamental to successful treatment, animal welfare, and growth performance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natália C. Gaeta ◽  
Bruno L.M. Ribeiro ◽  
Mario A.R. Alemán ◽  
Eidi Yoshihara ◽  
Alessandra F.C. Nassar ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is considered the major cause of economic losses in dairy and beef cattle production. The study aimed to detect the most important bacteria related to respiratory disease in tracheobronchial fluid samples of healthy and dairy calves with clinical signs of BRD in Brazilian rural settlements. Hundred and forty-one mongrel dairy calves were randomly selected from 42 family farm dairy herds from Brazilian settlements. Physical examination was performed and calves were classified as healthy (n=100) and BRD (n=41). Tracheobronchial fluid samples were collected. Isolation and molecular detection of Mycoplasma dispar, M. bovis and M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC besides isolation of other aerobic bacteria were performed. Abnormal lung sounds (crackle/snoring/whistle), mucopurulent/purulent nasal discharge, body temperature >39.5°C and respiratory rate >40 breaths/min were higher in BRD calves compared to healthy calves (P<0.05). Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus intermedius and non-fermentative Gram-negative were the most prevalent bacteria isolated. Non-identified species from Enterobacteriaceae family was higher in BRD calves compared to healthy calves (P<0.05). Mollicutes were isolated in 7.4% of samples and only M. dispar was detected. Mollicutes was associated with purulent/mucopurulent nasal discharge (P=0.017). Pantoea agglomerans was associated to tachypnea (P=0.020), and Streptococcus spp. was associated with hyperthermia. Statistical tendencies were observed to M. dispar and tachypnea (P=0.066), and P. agglomerans and tachycardia (P=0.066). The obtained results describe the microorganisms found in tracheobronchial fluid of calves with BRD in some herds of Brazilian family farming and their relation to clinical signs of BRD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trang Pham Hong ◽  
Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila ◽  
Nor Yasmin Abd. Rahaman ◽  
Huong Lai Thi Lan ◽  
Lan Nguyen Thi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In view of the current swine fever outbreak and the government aspiration to increase the goat population, a need arises to control and prevent outbreaks of goat pox. Despite North Vietnam facing sporadic cases of goat pox, this most recent outbreak had the highest recorded morbidity, mortality and case fatality rate. Thus, owing to the likelihood of a widespread recurrence of goat pox infection, an analysis of that outbreak was done based on selected signalment, management and disease pattern (signs and pathology) parameters. This includes examination of animals, inspection of facilities, tissue sampling and analysis for confirmation of goatpox along with questionaires. Results: It was found that the susceptible age group were between 3-6 months old kids while higher infection rate occurred in those under the free-range rearing system. The clinical signs of pyrexia, anorexia, nasal discharge and lesions of pocks were not restricted to the skin but have extended into the lung and intestine. The pathogen had been confirmed in positive cases via PCR as goat pox with prevalence of 79.69%. Conclusions: The epidemiology of the current goat pox outbreak in North Vietnam denotes a significant prevalence which may affect the industry. This signals the importance of identifying the salient clinical signs and post mortem lesions of goat pox at the field level in order to achieve an effective control of the disease.


Author(s):  
P. R. Chavelikar ◽  
G. C. Mandali ◽  
D. M. Patel

Ruminal acidosis is one of the most important clinical emergencies in sheep and goats resulting into high mortality rate. In the present study, eight healthy farm goats and 24 goats presented to the TVCC of the college with clinical signs of ruminal acidosis like anorexia, tympany, increased pulse and respiratory rate, reduced body temperature, doughy rumen, enteritis, oliguria, grinding of teeth, purulent nasal discharge, muscle twitching, arched back, dehydration and recumbency with rumen liquor pH below 6 were examined for haematological alterations using autohaematoanalyzer. Among various haematological parameters evaluated from acidotic goats, the mean values of Hb (12.21±0.17 vs. 10.86±0.15 g/dl), TEC (14.28±0.16 vs. 12.04±0.36 ×106/ μl), TLC (13.43±0.11 vs. 11.11±0.27 ×103/μl), PCV (36.91±0.53 vs. 29.88±0.55%), neutrophils (64.54±0.93 vs. 28.13±0.92%), MCV (23.38±0.37 vs. 19.38±1.34 fl) and MCH (7.03±0.08 vs. 6.31±0.25 pg) were found significantly increased, while the mean values of lymphocytes (28.00±0.82 vs. 65.38±0.80%) and MCHC (24.55 ±0.26 vs. 34.88±0.97 g/dl) were decreased significantly from the base values of healthy goats. It was concluded that ruminal acidosis induced due to accidental heavy ingestion of readily fermentable carbohydrate rich grains and food waste significantly altered the haematological profile concurrent with clinical manifestations in goats, and hence can be used to assess the severity of the disease.


1987 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Trahan ◽  
E. H. Stephenson ◽  
J. W. Ezzell ◽  
W. C. Mitchell

To evaluate the efficacy of a commercial bacterial vaccine in protecting Strain 13 guineapigs against fatal Bordetella bronchiseptica pneumonia, it was necessary to establish the infectivity and disease pathogenesis induced by virulent organisms. When guineapigs were exposed to small-particle aerosols of varying concentrations of virulent B. bronchiseptica, a spectrum of disease was produced that ranged from inapparent illness to fulminant bronchopneumonia. Clinical signs began by day 4 after exposure, and were evidenced by anorexia, weight loss, respiratory distress and serous to purulent nasal discharge. Pathological alterations were limited to the respiratory system. Moribund animals exhibited a suppurative necrotizing bronchopneumonia and necrotizing tracheitis. In animals that survived the challenge, the bacteria were eliminated from the lungs by day 28 but continued to persist in the laryngeal area and the trachea. The median infectious dose and the median lethal dose were estimated to be 4 colony-forming units (CFU) and 1314 CFU respectively. These data suggest that the guineapig will be a valuable model system in which to study interactions between Bordetella species and host cells as well as to evaluate potential B. bronchiseptica immunogens.


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