Diseases of Beef Cattle Intro to animal science

Symptoms of a healthy bovine. Temperature – 100.4 to 102.8 degrees Pulse rate- 60-70 beats per minute Respiration rate-10-30 breaths per minute Chewing cud

Clostridium chauvoei -Blackleg Cause: bacteria in soil absorbed through perforations in the intestinal wall Symptoms – cattle 6 mo to 2 years are most susceptible Lameness Loss of appetite Rapid breathing Depression High fever

Blackleg ( symptoms cont’d). Swelling develops in hip, shoulder, chest, back or neck Small, hot, painful at first Muscle becomes spongy and gaseous Animal usually dies in 12 to 48 hours

Blackleg – Treatment There is no treatment for blackleg Disease kills quickly and animal is usually found dead

Blackleg - Prevention 7 – way, blackleg plus redwater Given at two months, weaning, then yearly Vaccination of cow towards the end of pregnancy builds immunity in new calf

Clostridium perfringens – Enterotoxemia Type C and D Cause Increased grain consumption causes proliferation of bacteria in the digestive tract Causes lesions in the digestive tract Bacteria produces toxins Commonly called “overeating disease”

Enterotoxemia symptoms/treatment Bloody diarrhea Sudden death Treatment No treatment; toxins do not react to antibiotics

Enterotoxemia - Prevention 7 – way, blackleg plus redwater Given at two months, weaning, then yearly Vaccination of cow towards the end of pregnancy builds immunity in new calf

Clostridium septicum – Malignant Edema Causes: Similar to blackleg Caused by bacteria in the soil Enters through injection sites, castration site, lacerations on rams from fighting, through lacerations in the vulva at parturition Usually occurs in animals under two years old

Malignant Edema - symptoms Death Swelling – decomposition of tissue (similar to blackleg) on autopsy, muscle is dark brown to black; no buildup of gasses

Malignant Edema - Treatment Antibiotics may be helpful if edema is caught early. Usually no treatment

Malignant Edema prevention 7 – way, blackleg plus redwater Given at two months, weaning, then yearly Vaccination of cow towards the end of pregnancy builds immunity in new calf

Clostridium novyi; C. Sordelli – Black Disease – Infectious Necrotic Hepatitis Causes Bacteria in the soil Consumed and proliferates in the liver In the presence of liver flukes (worms) causes legions

Black Disease – symptoms/treatment Decreased ability to move Unsteady gait and collapse Increased body temperature Treatment None Bacteria creates toxins that do not respond to antibiotics

Black Disease- prevention 7 – way, blackleg plus redwater Given at two months, weaning, then yearly Vaccination of cow towards the end of pregnancy builds immunity in new calf

Clostridium haemolyticum Redwater Causes Bacteria found in alkaline soils(pH of 8 or higher) Warm season and marshy pastures – common in western states Cattle older than one year are at highest risk Carried in water, soil, and feces

Redwater – Symptoms/treatment death Rapid breathing High fever Weakness Anemia Lack of energy Dark, red, foamy urine-60% of red blodd cells are destroyed (thus the name redwater) Treatment none

Redwater Prevention 7 – way, blackleg plus redwater Given at two months, weaning, then yearly Vaccination of cow towards the end of pregnancy builds immunity in new calf

IBR – Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis Cause Bovine Herpesvirus-1 Highly contagious Stress can cause reactivation in animals that have “recovered” Symptoms Abortion Respiratory tract infections (crusty nose) Conjunctivitis Genital infections Brain infections (encephalitis) Generalized infections in new born calves

IBR – Treatment/Prevention Virus cannot be treated Secondary infections cantrolled Prevention Quarantine of new cattle Obtain a health certificate for new purchases vaccination

PI3 – Para-Influenza 3 Causes Symptoms 24-36 hour incubation period Pyrexia (elevated temperature) Cough serous nasal and lacrimal (glands around eye) discharge increased breath sounds

PI3 – Treatment/Prevention Virus itself cannot be treated Bacterial (conjunctivitis, pneumonia, etc.) infections can Fatalities are not common Prevention Vaccination usually in combination with IBR

BVD – Bovine Viral Diarrhea Causes – BVD virus Symptoms Common in calves 6-24 months old fever lethargy loss of appetite ocular /nasal discharge abortion oral lesions Diarrhea decreasing milk production

BVD Treatment Virus cannot be treated Symptoms may be treated with antibiotics Prevention Vaccination-usually in combination with BRV Cull animals that test positive

BRSV – Bovine Respiratory Synctial Virus Cause Virus Symptoms watery to thick mucous discharge from the nose and eyes increased temperatures increased breathing rates decreased appetites or go off feed appear slightly depressed Lactating cows may have a sudden drop in milk production In pastured cattle that are not seen daily, sudden death may be the first sign of BRSV infection.

BRSV – treatment/prevention No treatment for virus Symptoms can be controlled Prevention Vaccination

BSE – Bovine spongiform encephalopathy “Mad Cow” Cause Prion protein Consumption of mammal based proteins containing the prion FDA has banned use of bone meal and suspect animal proteins since 1997 in rumninant feeds; banned all high risk materials (brain and spinal cord) in all animal feed since 2007 Symptoms behavioral changes coordination problems weight loss decreased milk production The incubation period from time of infection until the onset of clinical signs averages three to six years.

BSE – Treatment/prevention Treatment – none Vaccination – none Four confirmed cases, in cattle, have occurred in the U.S. (‘03, ‘05, ‘06, ‘12) The BSE epizootic in the United Kingdom peaked in January 1993 at almost 1,000 new cases per week. Over the next 17 years, the annual numbers of BSE cases has dropped sharply; 14,562 cases in 1995, 1,443 in 2000, 225 in 2005 and 11 cases in 2010. Cumulatively, through the end of 2010, more than 184,500 cases of BSE had been confirmed in the United Kingdom alone in more than 35,000 herds.

Brucellosis - Brucella abortus “Bangs” bacteria spread from vaginal discharge of infected cow or from an aborted fetus Can be transmitted via semen and milk Symptoms abortions retained placenta weak calves infertility

Brucellosis – treatment/prevention No treatment Prevention vaccination administered by a veterinarian and subsequent tagging for proof Idaho Code requires that all intact female cattle in the state used for breeding, grazing or dairying purposes be officially vaccinated against brucellosis. ISDA requires the vaccination of all imported intact female cattle and domestic bison 4 months (120 days) and older prior to entering the state. If cattle are of Idaho origin they must be vaccinated prior to becoming 1 year of age. Cattle that are older than 1 year and are of Idaho origin may qualify to be adult vaccinated for brucellosis. Idaho lost it’s “Brucellosis Class A Free” status in 2009 and is now “Class Free”; animals can be required to be tested coming from “hot” areas.

Anthrax - Bacillus anthracis Causes Bacteria Spore may survive for decades in soil Symptoms Death - progression from a normal appearance to dead in a matter of hours weakness, fever, excitement followed by depression, difficulty breathing, uncoordinated movements and convulsions Bloody discharges from the natural body openings edema in different parts of the body are sometimes observed After death, the animal's body rapidly decomposes.

Anthrax Treatment Prevention If caught before symptomatic, antibiotics may help Prevention vaccination programs rapid detection and reporting, quarantine, treatment of asymptomatic animals (post-exposure prophylaxis) burning and burial of suspect and confirmed cases vaccination of all grazing animals in the endemic area and by implementation of control measures during epizootics. Vaccination should be done 2–4 wk before the season when outbreaks may be expected. Because this is a live vaccine, antibiotics should not be administered within 1 wk of vaccination.

Foot in Mouth Viral and highly contagious Animals are destroyed from the whole herd Last U.S. outbreak was 1929 Largest recent outbreak was England, 2007 The US will not import cattle from countries with a history of Foot in Mouth.

zoonosis A zoonosis is a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans Examples: Anthrax – wool sorters disease in humans (skin form) Brucellosis – undulant fever in humans Mad cow – Crutzfeld Jacobs in humans Is this a true zoonosis?