Listeriosis

 🔴Listeriosis

🔻Listeriosis is a sporadic bacterial infection that affects a wide range of animals, including man and birds.

🔻It is principally caused by Listeria monocytogenes, and occasionally by L.ivanovii.

🔻The natural habitat is soil and the mammalian intestinal tract and vegetation and silage become contaminated with soil and/or feces.

🔻Humans acquire infection by consuming not well cooked animal products.

🟡Clinical Symptoms 

🔘The characteristic symptoms are

1_Encephalitis or Meningoencephalitis

2_Abortion in adult cattle

3_Perinatal mortality

4_Septicemia

5_Fever in neonatal ruminants.

☑️Animals with encephilitis propel themselves into corners, lean against stationary objects, or circle toward the affected side.

☑️Facial paralysis, and inability to control balance are also observed. 

🔴Listeria Infection causes of abortion in a cow

🟥At any stage of gestation 

🟦Sporadic abortion.

🟧The fetal liver is shrunken and gray and contains pinpoint microabscesses.

🟪Necrosis of the cotyledons and intercotyledonary area Culture of Listeria from fetus or placenta.

🔬Diagnosis 

1_Isolation of L.monocytogenes from brain🧠

2_Aborted placenta and fetus 3_Occasionally from the spinal fluid, nasal discharge,urine, feces, and milk of clinically ill ruminants.

💉Treatment and Prevention💉 

💉Supportive treatment

1_Fluid, electrolyte 

2_supplemental feeding for severe cases.

💊Drug treatment

⭕️First line

1_Procaine penicillin G,  IM or SC q 12 h for

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Bovine Anaplasmosis

 🔴Bovine Anaplasmosis

🔻Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne bacterial disease of ruminants caused by obligate intraerythrocytic parasites of the genus Anaplasma.

🔻Clinical bovine anaplasmosis is usually caused by Anaplasma marginale.

🔻Cattle are also infected with Anaplasma caudatum, which may result in severe disease, and Anaplasma centrale, which generally results in mild disease. 

🔻The tick vectors of anaplasmosis include

1_Boophilus.

2_Dermacentor.

3_Rhipicephalus.

4_Ixodes.

5_Hyalomma.

6_Argas.

7_Ornithodoros genera.

🟡Clinical Symptoms 

🔘Signs include

1_Fever.

2_Progressive anaemia.

3_Icterus.

4_Inapparent in endemic areas and young calves.

🔘Other signs  evident in the later stage include

1_Drop in milk production.

2_Inappetence.

3_Loss of coordination. 4_Breathlessness when exerted.

5_Rapid bounding pulse which are usually evident in the late 

stages.

6_Mucous membranes appear pale and then yellow. 

7_Pregnant cows may abort.

8_Calves are much more resistant to disease (though not infection) than older cattle.

🔬Diagnosis

🔘Microscopical examination of Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood films

⭕️Other tests include

1_Complement fixation test.

2_Card agglutination tests used for the diagnosis of anaplasmosis

💊Treatment and Prevention  

🔘Non-drug treatment

💉Supportive therapy may be necessary in dehydration or anaemic animals

💊Drug treatment 

1_Oxytetracycline (LA) 

Or 

2_Chloramphenicol  

Or  

3_Imidocarb dipropionate 

🛡Prevention 

✔️Tick control

🟥Management 

🔘Soft ticks 

🔻All niches and crevices in affected building should be  

sprayed with acaricides. 

🔘Hard ticks 

1_Control of one host-ticks:

🔻Acaricide spray or dip every 21 days however, to control all nymphs, treat every 12 days during tick season.

2_Control of two-host and three-ticks: 

🔻Weekly dipping during the tick season. 

🔘Other control options include:

🔻Cultivation of land, improved drainage, vaccines (recently developed)

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Poisonings in animals

 🔴Poisonings in animals🧪

🔻Poisons are substances that cause disturbances in animal body by chemical reaction or other activities , when vital organ of animal body absorbs a sufficient quantity of poison .

🟢Three Main Principles of treatment in cases of poisoning :

1- Removal of the residual poison from the alimentary tract or skin. 

2- Provision of chemical and physiological antidotes to the poison that has been absorbed 

3- Effective supportive care, nursing, and convalescent care. 

🛑In farm animals

🔻Gastric lavage and emetics are of little or no practical value and the removal of residual poison from the alimentary tract depends largely upon the use of adsorbents and purgatives.

🔻The only effective adsorbent is activated charcoal. The dose rate is 1-3 g/kg BW

🔻A purgative is necessary to remove the combined adsorbent and poison;it can be administered simultaneously with the adsorbent. 

🔻The non-absorbable oil purgatives(e.g. mineral oil) are preferable in case of irritant  

poison

🔻Saline purgatives (sodium sulfate) are of value in the treatment of non-irritant poisons such as cyanogenetic glucosides. 

🧪Antidote are substances which oppose the effects of poisons without causing damage to body 

🔴Types of Antidotes 

1_Mechanical or physical antidote: 

🔹These substances prevents the absorption of poison by their presence eg:demulcents(fats, oils, milk, egg albumin) are used for corrosive and irritant poisoning

🔘Activated charcoal is used for strychnine and mineral poisoning. 

2_Chemical antidotes: 

🔹These substances neutralize the chemical action or oxidize the poison into nontoxic or insoluble form eg: Dilute acetic acid ,dilute alkali(milk of magnesia),tannin(strong tea),potassium permanganate 

3_Physiological or pharmacological antidotes 

🔹These produce action or effects opposite to that by poison eg:atropine and oximes for organophosphorous poison,naloxone for morphine, N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen

4_Chelating antidote : 

🔹These are substances which produce form chelates(non ionized complexes) with cations these are mostly used in heavy metaul poisoning eg:

🔶EDTA is used in Arsenic,mercury,lead 

🔸BAL(dimercaptopropanol) is used in heavy metal poisons 

🔸Versenate is used in Arsenic,mercury and lead 

5_Universal Antidote:

🔹It is Given when unknown poison is ingested 

💊Composition:

(1)_Powdered charcoal 2 parts 

(2)_Magnesium oxide 1 part 

(3)_Tannic acid 1 part

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Fatty liver syndrome is the accumulation of fat within the cow's liver

 Fatty liver syndrome is the accumulation of fat within the cow's liver.

Cause

Fatty liver occurs as a result of the cow breaking down too much fat for the liver to process properly. Fat mobilisation occurs as a result of negative energy balance. The broken down far is then converted back to fat in the liver to prevent them becoming toxic. Thus the liver becomes fat when the cow is losing condition, the more loss in condition the more fat in the liver.

Fatty liver can develop within 24 hours of an animal going off feed. This is typically around calving time.

Once it is deposited in the liver, the concentration of fat in the liver does not fall until the cow gets into positive energy balance, which can be over ten weeks after calving, particularly if the fatty liver is severe. Fat cows (Body Condition Score greater than 3.5) are much more prone to fatty liver.

Symptoms

Lower milk yields

Depressed appetite

Incidences of milk fever, ketosis, mastitis, retained fetal membranes etc

Reduced fertility

Blood tests will show elevated nonesterified fatty acid concentrations (NEFA) levels (free fatty acids) and increased ketones.

Treatment

Without treatment mortality can be as high as 25 per cent.

Besides longterm IV infusion of glucagon, there is no proven treatment for fatty liver.

Fatty liver is an important economic disease because cows that develop fatty liver are affected by multiple metabolic and infectious diseases; they reduce milk production, and are frequently culled.

Treatment

Without treatment mortality can be as high as 25 per cent.

Besides longterm IV infusion of glucagon, there is no proven treatment for fatty liver.

Fatty liver is an important economic disease because cows that develop fatty liver are affected by multiple metabolic and infectious diseases; they reduce milk production, and are frequently culled.

Prevention

Ensuring that cows are calving at the correct body condition would prevent the breakdown of fat and fatty liver. An ideal body condition score to calf would be between 2.5 to 3. Cows should be dried of at this score and weight maintained through the dry period.

Changing diets during this period should be avoided.

Glucose supplements can be given to overfat animals as preventative measure.

Minimising stress is important for prevention of fatty liver. Sudden changes in environment should be avoided. For example, changes in ration, housing, temperature, herdmates, etc may cause a reduction in feed intake and trigger catecholamine-mediated increases in fat mobilisation.

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Cow Parturition Indicators

 Cow Parturition Indicators:

***************************

How to know when a cow will calve?

Cow calving and knowing when your cow will calve is important because it can mean the difference between the life or death of your calf, cow or both. 

So therefore it is important to know what to look out for when your cow is about to give birth. Cows are very much like humans, all different with different problems.

Many people dream about the good life and homesteading and also would like to own a milking cow for cheese making. However, this also means that the cow has to be mated on a regular basis and she will eventually have her calf or sometimes calves if there are twins. When you are placed in a situation like this without having any knowledge of cow calving it can be a little overwhelming.

Hopefully, when your cow was mated you were present and know the month that the calf is expected. It is also hoped that your cow was mated with a bull of either the same cattle breed or size. You would have lots of problems if your Jersey cow had been mated with a large Hereford bull.

1.Calving and knowing the due date:

Knowing the month of the calf's due birth makes things a lot easier and if you are vigilant you will be able to follow the progress. One of the first signs of cow pregnancy will be the cow's increase in appetite and enlarging of the udder. 

The enlarging of the udder usually happens at 7 months. If you are still milking your cow, she should be dried off 6 weeks before the calving. If your cow is very small, it is even better to dry her off at 12 weeks before the calving to allow her to put on weight and take time to grow a little.

2.Calving and the week before:

In the last week of before cow calving there are obvious signs known. The abdomen is distended, milk veins under the stomach can easily be seen, often in a v-shape under the belly. 

The backside of the cow becomes loose and the udders start to swell. Also the ribs won't be that visible and increased feeding with a heavy dropped stomach are other signs.

3. 24 hours before calving:

Within 24 hours of cow calving the cow will move very slowly, dragging her back legs slightly or walking with a rolling gait. 

The ribs are also more evident now as the stomach has dropped. As much as two days before the calving process your cow will start looking for a quiet calving spot away from the rest of the cows or farm noise. So look out for this type of behavior in looking for that quiet bush or tall reeds to hide in.

4.Hours before calving:

Within the hours of cow calving the cow is acting strangely, often restless and a white transparent membrane is often seen weeping from the back passage. Within an hour or so of seeing this you will see the calf's hooves appearing. 

If the hooves are in the proper position they should be coming out together, one on top of the other and facing downwards. If the hooves are facing upwards this means trouble because it means that the calf is either upside down or back to front - both conditions need a vet.

5.During the calving:

During cow calving the cow will stand or lie down as often as she feels comfortable and her moving between these two positions is quite normal. 

As soon as her waters break she will sniff the area and start mooing as she believes that the calf is somehow there. 

However, when the contractions come thick and fast and she is ready to calve the cow will lie down and start pushing. 

With the hooves emerging first the head follows, and then the shoulders. Because this is the broadest part of the calf this is the most difficult for the cow and she may take her time during this process. 

Once the calf is finally out the cow will lick the calf vigorously getting rid of the membrane covering the calf.

Licking the calf is important in cow calving as it stimulates the calf's blood flow and it will also form an important bond between mum and baby. 

Mum will often moo and the calf will answer and try to stand on its wobbly legs. Within 20 minutes it will be up on its feed and start

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Bloat in cow/ Tympany in cow

 ✓BLOAT🐄🐄

_______________

Bloat is an over distention of the rumen and reticulum with the gases of fermentation.Tympany is caused by a physical or functional obstruction or stenosis of esophagus resulting in failure to eructate .

In adult animals, free-gas bloat is less frequent and usually more acute because disturbances of the adult rumen tend to be more rapid and severe .Prodigious volumes of gas are continually generated in the rumen through the process of microbial fermentation. Normally, the bulk of this gas is eliminated by eructation or belching, which ruminants are spend a lot of time doing. Certainly, anything that interferes with eructation will cause major problems for a ruminant. The problem, of course, is called ruminal tympany or, simply, bloatBloat is the overdistension of the rumen and reticulum with gases derived from fermentation. The disorder is perhaps most commonly seen in cattle, but certainly is not uncommon in sheep and goats.

                ✓               Clinical Signs. 

                               _______________

2There is discomfort and the animal may stand and lie down frequently, kick at its abdomen and even roll.

3. Frequent defecation and urination are common.

4. Dyspnea is marked and is accompanied by mouth breathing, protrusion of the tongue, salivation and extension of the head.

5. The respiratory rate is increased up to 60/min.

6. Ruminal contractions are usually increased in strength and frequency in the early stages and may be almost continuous, 

            ✓        Treatment and Control

                     _______________________

Bloat is a life threatening condition and must be relieved with haste. For animals in severe distress, rumen gas should be released immediately by emergency rumenotomy. Insertion of a rumen trochar through the left flank into rumen is sometimes advocated, but usually not very effective unless it has a large bore (i.e. 1 inch), and is often followed by complications such as peritonitis.

In less severe cases, a large bore stomach tube should be passed down the esophagus into the rumen. Free gas will readily flow out the tube, although it may need to be repositioned repeatedly to effectively relieve the pressure. In the case of frothy bloat, antifoaming medications can be delivered directly into the rumen through the tube; the animal should then be closely observed to insure that the treatment is effective and the animal begins to belch gas, otherwise a rumenotomy may be indicated.

Use mineral oil 

Charcoals 

Carminatives.

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When Cow should be Inseminated

 When should cows be inseminated?

If cows are inseminated too early the sperm will no longer be viable when they meet the egg; if they're inseminated too late then the reverse will occur.

However, there is more leeway with the former than the latter. The golden rule of timing of insemination remains: inseminate before the cow releases the egg ('ovulation') - we want the sperm to be in the oviduct before the egg gets there.

This means that the timing of insemination is based on predicting when ovulation is likely to occur not when it has occurred. In the cow, ovulation occurs 24 to 32 hours after the start of standing heat; this means that we can tie the timing of insemination to observing heat, with initial research showing that the best conception rates occurred when cows were inseminated  from mid oestrus until 2 to 3  hours after the end of oestrus.

The am/pm rule

This research led to the development of the 'am/pm rule' - where a cow which was seen on heat in the evening was inseminated the next morning, while a cow that was seen on heat in the morning was inseminated the following evening.

However, the modern dairy cow shows heat less intensely (fewer than 50% of cows in oestrus stand to be mounted compared to >70% in the 1980s) and shows it for a shorter period of time (duration of standing oestrus has decreased from an average of 15 hours to 5 hours), so the question is often asked as to whether the am/pm rule needs to be changed.

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