Joint ill, omphalophelbitis and polyarthritis Navel ill Joint ill, omphalophelbitis and polyarthritis

Definition Navel or joint ill is a disease of young calves, usually less than one week of age. It occurs as a result of infection entering via the umbilical cord at, or soon after birth and characterized by development painful swelling or abcessation (creamy white pus) of the navel, arthritis and lameness.

Etiology The disease is caused by many microorganisms such as Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Proteus sp. and Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Epidemiology Distribution: The disease is worldwide distributed and present in Egypt. Animal susceptible: The disease is most common in calve of 1-2 W. of age. Mode of transmission: The infection can be transmitted through contamination of umbilicus of calve by feces, uterine discharge from infected dams, soils and bedding of contaminated pens. Predisposing factors: This problem mainly develops due to the poor hygiene conditions at calving and dirty umbilicus.

Pathogenesis Microorganisms enter the umbilicus and may result in a local reaction at the point of entry into the body, between the muscle layers, or in the peritoneum. Otherwise, the bacteria may pass via the umbilical vein to the liver and then to systemic blood. When infection is present in the blood, it may cause septicemia or result in chronic illness due to localization I the organs such as heart, brain (cause meningitis), eye (causing panophthalmia) and joints (causing arthritis).

Clinical signs The IP is variable, morbidity and mortality are generally low. Navel ill If infection stays mostly confined to the navel, the primary sign is a swollen, painful navel that does not dry up An abscess may develop from which pus (often like thick custard) may burst. The calf may have a high temperature and reduced appetite. Septicemic form: Calf suffer from anorexia, pyrexia (40.5 °C) accelerated respiratory rate. The mucous membrane become redden and has petichial hemorrhage. There are various degrees of dehydration followed by acidosis and death.

Clinical signs Bacteremic form with localization in the internal organs: The calve suffer from anorexia and fever 39-40 °C) and the organism spread to various organs. In case of localization in the heart give to endocarditis. If the eye affected, there is panophthelmitis and hypopyon. The commonest sites for bacteria to settle are the joints. This leads to swollen stiff painful (often hot) joints. Aspiration of the affected joint reveals thick pus. In some calves infection spreads from the navel to the liver causing a liver abscess. In this case problems may not be noted until the calves are older (1 –3 months).

Postmortem leisons Swollen of umbilical vessels and filled with blood. There is localized peritonitis. Petichial and ecchymotic hemorrhage on subserosa and submucosa of various organs.

Diagnosis Field diagnosis: based on clinical signs and history of the disease. Laboratory diagnosis: Samples: Swabs or pus from the swelling navel or joints, blood and serum samples. Procedures: Microscopic examination of stained smear. Isolation of the causative agents on specific media. Serological examination. Histopathological findings.

Treatment Separate the infected animals and isolate them. For large navel abscesses, veterinary intervention to drain and remove the infected tissue is often necessary and the lesion is washed with antiseptic such as betadin with local dressing antibiotics. In joint infection, the joint should be surgically opening with removal of pus and affected tissue and joint flushing can be useful. Septicemic form should be treated with intensive course of broad spectrum antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ampicillin and sulfonamides by the parental route for at least 5 days.

Control Applying a disinfectant (such as iodine) to the navel can reduce the risk of bacteria entering via the navel, applying disinfectant two or three times to bulls can reduce the risk. Cattle must be born in clean environment that they aren’t moved to other pens or contaminated pastures until the navel has dried completely. Finally, like all diseases of young calves getting sufficient colostrum is essential. Ensure that all calves get a good suck in the first 6 hours of birth