Endocarditis in Two-year-old Holstein Heifer

Melanoma in 11 month old Crossbred Steer

IBR Virus Infections in Lightweight Holstein Steers

An Interesting Case of a Large Fish Found Floating Dead in Stock Pond

Several severe lameness outbreaks have been seen this winter. High numbers of calves are affected. Problems include subsolar abscesses, toe abscesses, separation of hoof wall from the sole, and infected feet (joints and flexor tendons). Infected joint, undermined sole, and infected flexor tendon. Toe abscess. Laminitis is suspected as the underlying cause of the problems. Severe cold and winds cause cattle to back off of feed. When cattle return to eating when the weather moderates, they may get laminitis from increased grain consumption

A dead four year old female Labrador retriever was submitted for examination. Necropsy exam revealed approximately 1 liter of unclotted blood in the thorax. The owner recalled that the dog had eaten rat poison a week before death. He thought she would be alright when she did not show any ill effects the next day. Chemical analysis of liver tissue demonstrated 0.66 ppm diphacinone (This is a second generation anticoagulent rodenticide.).

Twenty 100 pound feeder lambs died over a one week period. The weather was very hot and humid. One lamb was brought to the laboratory. The rumen contained lots of corn and fluid. The rumen pH was 3.7. Microscopic examination of rumen wall confirmed acute suppurative rumenitis. A diagnosis of grain engorgement and ruminal acidosis was offered. The largest lambs in the group were affected most likely because they were dominant and consumed the most grain. The group had been vaccinated twice for Clostridium perfringens C & D.

Three of 90 five month old gilts had died following a brief episode of bloody diarrhea. The carcass was pale and the colon was filled with dark, tarry feces. The ileal mucosa was thickened and the ileal lumen contained a long bloody cast. The ileum had typical microscopic lesions of porcine proliferative enteritis. The cause of this disease is Lawsonia intracellularis.

A backgrounding operation was plagued by an extended pinkeye outbreak. Ocular swabs contained Moraxella bovis, Branhamella ovis and Manheimia(Pasteurella) haemolytica. Various ophthalmic treatments, oral and injectable antibiotics and eye patches didn't seem to solve the problems. The submitting veterinarian reported that the outbreak halted within a couple days following MLV IBR vaccination and injectable vitamin A administration.

Group image. Early clinical case. Close-up view of early case - notice excess lacrimation and inflammtion of the eyelids(blepharitis). Chronic pinkeye case - notice corneal scar and excess lacrimation.

A live feeder steer in sternal recumbancy was brought to the laboratory. It had tail tip necrosis and polyarthritis. Arcanobacterium pyogenes were isolated from multiple joints and from lung abscesses.

This cow was losing weight and had diarrhea. The colon contained fluid contents. The ileal mucosa was thickened and the mesenteric lymph nodes were slightly enlarged. The Johne's DNA probe test was positive on the intestine.  Extension fact sheet on Johne's in the beef herd.

One 16 day old pig was submitted. Necropsy revealed fluid yellow diarrhea, a milk filled stomach and partly filled lacteals. Histopath exams revealed atrophic enteritis with numerous coccidia in gut epithelium.

One dead puppy was submitted for exam. Four puppies from two litters had died. Seven litters from this kennel were housed in the same building. Affected puppies were dehydrated, had open mouthed breathing, and cried before dying. Necropsy lesions included multifocal hemorrhages in kidneys and mottled lungs. Histopath exams revealed multifocal necrosis in liver, kidney and lung. Fluorescent antibody tests were positive on kidney for canine herpesvirus.

A one month old beef calf was found dead in the pasture. Eyes were sunken and there were dark feces on the tail and hindquarters. The spiral colon contained blood tinged contents and some shreds of fibrin. Intestinal contents from the large intestine. Moderate numbers of Eimeria zuernii were observed in the stool.

A month old beef calf died suddenly with no history of illness. Fifty cow-calf pairs were kept in a pasture with a tree grove. No significant gross lesions were seen at necropsy. Kidney was analyzed for lead and 86 ppm were found confirming lead poisoning. We see most cases of lead poisoning in calves in the spring. Calves are curious and seem to seek out lead sources which are often broken batteries.

Three of 180 six month old holstein heifers died acutely with swollen necks. Necrotizing myositis was found in the neck and necrotizing myocarditis was observed in the heart. Clostridium chauvoei was identified from heart and skeletal muscle. The heifers had not received a clostridial vaccine upon arrival.

Pasteurella haemolytica and Mycoplasma spp. were isolated from the lungs of these four to six week old lambs. Lambs. Lungs.

This flock did not receive iodized salt. 75% of lambs died shortly after birth. Swollen thyroid glands. Notice the enlarged thyroid gland next to a normal one from a different flock.

The feedlot operators complained of coughing, lameness and diarrhea. A live heifer was brought to the laboratory. They said she had been treated previously for pneumonia and was "bagging up". Pasteurella multocida, Haemophilus somnus and Actinomyces pyogenes were identified from lung. Actinomyces pyogenes was also identified from mammary gland. Mycoplasma bovis organisms were also identified from both lung and mammary gland.

The feedlot operators complained that this steer was depressed, anorexic, and reluctant to move prior to euthanasia. Hardware disease was found (endocarditis). Nephritis and encephalitis were also observed.

Another recent hardware case. Actinomyces pyogenes was found in kidney.

Owners complained that this 15 day old calf suddenly started to knuckle over in both fetlocks. Skin on affected limbs was cold. The calf was euthanized. A saddle thrombus (aortic and iliac artery thrombosis) was discovered.

A live recumbant two day old calf was submitted for examination. Two other calves had similar signs. None were able to arise or nurse. Brain demonstrated severe hydrocephalus of lateral ventricles and severe cerebellar hypoplasia.

Two lame 10-month-old Holstein steers were brought to the ADRDL for examination. They were part of a mixed group of 40 300-500 lb. calves. The owner reported that 30 out of 40 animals were affected and that some animals had sloughed feet. The hind legs had a clear line of demarcation above the dewclaws (Image 1, Image 2). The skin below the line was cold and hard. Microscopic examination of affected skin revealed full thickness necrosis of epidermis with underlying thrombosed vessels in the dermis. A ration consisting of corn, oats and pellets had been fed for about a month prior to the start of the problem. The oats contained many ergot bodies. Chemical analysis of oats confirmed a very high level of ergopeptine alkaloids.

One dead adult beef cow was brought to the ADRDL for examination. She was one of four sudden cow deaths in a group of 60 cows and their calves a couple of days after a late fall blizzard. The cows had been in a grass pasture during the blizzard and were brought home to process the calves. Access to water was limited during the storm. Several bales of hay were fed to the cows. No significant gross lesions were observed in the cow. Further discussion with the submitting veterinarian revealed the fact that the cows had eagerly consumed salt when they arrived at the home farm. Chemical analysis of brain tissue revealed 2,050 ppm sodium. These results confirmed salt toxicity/water deprivation. Levels above 1,800 ppm in cerebral tissue are sufficient to make a tentative diagnosis. No further losses were reported.
 
 

Twelve abortions occurred and two cows died following the opening of a new bag of silage. The animals were from a group of 68 head. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from cow and fetal tissues. Cultures were negative on silage. Losses stopped after the feed was changed and the cows were supplemented with oral oxytetracycline. A "hot spot" of L. monocytogenes contaminated silage was suspected as the cause of the problem. Bovine abortion samples are discussed in the December 1998 Animal Health Matters Newsletter.
 
 

A live 500 pound heifer was submitted from a group of feetlot heifers. The animals had been purchased three weeks before at a salebarn. The heifer had a history of rear limb lameness and swollen feet. The problem did not respond to antibiotic treatment, and the lameness progressed to recumbancy. Three other animals at the feedlot were down with a similar history. The toe tips were abraded and oozed foul smelling, black fluid when squeezed. Lateral claws of the hind feet were split which revealed pedal osteitis at the tip of P3 and a cavitated area undermining the sole and hoof wall. A hock joint contained inspissated suppurative exudate. Lungs had multiple necrotic lobules, some with large cavitation. Bacterial cultures identified Actinomyces pyogenes and Bacteroides sp. from lung and joint swabs. Pasteurella multocida was also identified from lung and Mycoplasma arginini from joint. This syndrome is known as toe abscess and can occur in cattle handled on rough surfaces. The claw tips are worn until there is white line separation which then allows penetration of dirt and manure into the claw. Bacterial infection with various aerobic and anaerobic microbes results in pedal osteitis, ascending foot infection, and bacteremia. The problem must be identified as soon as possible for treatment to be successful. The interdigital space is usually not affected, as in footrot. Recommended treatment is trimming the toe to allow drainage (excessive trimming will cause increased lameness) and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy. Some veterinarians will apply a block to the unaffected claw.
 
 

Two to three month old kids (goat) went down on back end. Animals alert and still eat. Had three other kids do the same thing. Most get weak in hindquarters first but can get weak in front first.

Gross necropsy- No gross lesions, gastrointestinal tract full of normal content.

Microscopically- Pulmonary edema and congestion, brevity of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and axonal degeneration in the peripheral nerves (namely sciatic nerve).

Chemical analysis- Liver copper was 1 ppm (adequate=25-150 ppm).

Diagnosis - Copper deficiency / enzootic ataxia
 
 

Partial alopecia, swollen neck, and thyroid enlargement and myxedema.
 
 

A mink ranch was experiencing an increased incidence of abortions. The normal rate was around 1% and it had increased to about 3% of the litters. Salmonella dublin organisms were identified from fetal stomach contents. The source of infection is usually contaminated feed.