Hypothyroidism

 #Hypothyroidism:

🛑Hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone deficiency. It is diagnosed by clinical features such as lethargy, weight gain, obesity, haircoat changes, and low serum thyroid hormone concentrations

♦️What is a common symptom of hypothyroidism in animals?

Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid condition, is a relatively common endocrine disorder in dogs. It is less common in other species. Hypothyroidism causes the bodily functions to slow down. Clinical signs of the disorder include lethargy, weight gain, and haircoat and skin changes.

♦️What organs are affected by hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism can affect the heart and circulatory system in several ways. Lower production of thyroid hormone slows your heart rate. Hypothyroidism also makes the arteries less elastic, and blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body.

♦️Types of Hypothyroidism

🛑Transient hypothyroidism: Abnormal thyroid hormone levels at birth caused by exposure to thyroid medication from the mother or by mother's antibodies. It usually goes away and does not need long-term treatment.

🛑Congenital hypothyroidism: Present at birth and found through newborn screening.

♦️What is the most common known cause of hypothyroidism.

Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. With this disease, your immune system attacks the thyroid. The thyroid becomes inflamed and can't make enough thyroid hormones.

  ♦️Symptoms of an underactive thyroid

🛑tiredness.

🛑being sensitive to cold.

🛑weight gain.

🛑constipation.

🛑depression.

🛑slow movements and thoughts.

🛑muscle aches and weakness.

🛑muscle cramps.

♦️How do you diagnose hypothyroidism?

🛑A blood test measuring your hormone levels is the only accurate way to find out whether there's a problem.

🛑The first blood test typically done to diagnose hypothyroidism measures the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood.

♦️What antibiotics treat thyroid?

First-line antibiotic choices to treat acute thyroiditis include parenteral penicillin or ampicillin. These drugs cover most of the gram-positive cocci and anaerobes that cause the disease.

♦️What is the drug of choice for hypothyroidism?

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is usually treated by taking daily hormone replacement tablets called levothyroxine. Levothyroxine replaces the thyroxine hormone, which your thyroid does not make enough of. You'll initially have regular blood tests until the correct dose of levothyroxine is reached.

♦️How long is treatment for hypothyroidism?

For most cases of mild to moderate hypothyroidism, a starting levothyroxine dosage of 50-75 µg/day will suffice. Clinical benefits begin in 3-5 days and level off after 4-6 weeks. Achieving a TSH level within the reference range may take several months because of delayed readaptation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

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CHICKEN INFECTIOUS ANEMIA

🐣CHICKEN INFECTIOUS ANEMIA 🐓

(CIA; Chicken Anemia Virus; Chicken Anemia Agent; Blue Wing Disease)

🔴DEFINITION

Chicken infectious anemia (CIA)is a disease of young chickens characterized by aplastic anemia, generalized lymphoid atrophy,subcutaneous and intramuscular hemorrhage, and immunodepression.

🌍OCCURRENCE 

CIA is ubiquitous in all major chicken-producing countries  

in the world.

⭕️ETIOLOGY

1_CIAV is classified into genus Gyrovirus of the family Circoviridae. 

2_Viral particles are non enveloped and are environmentally very resistant. 

3_They have a diameter of approximately 25 nm and contain a single-stranded circular DNA genome[SSDNA].

4_Although viral isolates may differ at a molecular level antigenic or pathogenicity differences have not been reported.

🌏EPIDEMIOLOGY

1_All ages are susceptible to infection but clinical disease is typically seen only during the first 2 to 4 weeks. However, age resistance may be delayed by simultaneous infection with infectious bursal disease virus. 

2_The virus is spread both vertically and horizontally.

🔻The most important method of transmission is vertical  

from infected hens.

🔻Antibody-negative chicks are most susceptible to clinical disease.

🔻CIA virus also easily spreads via feces among birds in a population.

🟡CLINICAL SIGNS 

1_The only specific sign of CIAV infection is anemia characterized by hematocrit values ranging from 6 to 27 (normal hematocrit values are generally 29-35%).

2_Nonspecific clinical signs include

A_Depression

B_Pale tissues

C_Depressed weight gain

D_Secondary bacterial, mycotic, and viral infections.

3_Morbidity and mortality rates depend on various viral, host and environmental factors and concurrent infection with other agents. Uncomplicated CIA may only cause low mortality and poor performance. When complicated with other factors mortality can be 30% or even higher. 

4_Early infections with CIAV can interfere with vaccination against Marek’s disease or infectious bursal disease.

🟣LESIONS 

1_Marked thymic atrophy is the most consistent lesion.

2_Fatty yellowish bone marrow, particularly in the femur, is characteristic  

3_Bursal atrophy can also be seen in a small number of  

birds. 

4_Hemorrhages in the mucosa of the proventriculus,subcutis, and muscles may also be observed  

5_Secondary bacterial infections may occur and include gangrenous dermatitis or blue wing disease if the wings are affected 

6_Histologically, there is marked thymic lymphoid depletion and marked atrophy of all cell lines in the bone marrow 

🔻The bursal lymphoid follicles  

are mildly to severely depleted and spleen and other tissues with lymphoid aggregates are variably depleted.

🔻There may be histological evidence of secondary bacterial infections including gangrenous dermatitis.

🔬DIAGNOSIS 

1_A presumptive diagnosis is based upon clinical signs and gross lesions.

2_Isolation in cell cultures (MDCC-CU147 or MSB1) and identification of the virus from most tissues, buffy coat cells,and cloacal contents.

3_Serologic assays to detect antibodies such as the ELISA, virus neutralization test, and indirect immunofluorescence. 

4_PCR is the test of choice for identification of CIA virus in cell cultures and chicken tissues.

🔰CONTROL 

✅Best prevention is by immunization of breeder flocks prior to the onset of egg production (between 13-15 weeks of age but no closer to egg production than 4 weeks).

💊TREATMENT 

▪️No treatment is available.

🔄ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL 

🔸None reported.

Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

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Poisoning in animals

 ⚠Poisoning in animals:

◻Poisons are substances that cause disturbances in animal body by chemical reaction or other activities , when vital organ of animal bod y 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 metal 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

Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

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𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀

 ⚠𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀  ?

Ingestion of plastic materials by animals and it's signs:☟︎︎︎☟︎

▪️Ingestion of plastic materials may not result in immediate death, but there are several difficult symptoms seen in the victim animals.

These plastics are indigestible and therefore pile up in their stomachs (rumen for cattle) with time and get entangled with different materials, forming a hard cement-like ball.

After some time, the animal shows signs of being weak and tired then goes off feed and at times experiences bloat due to stomach blockage. The animal may also start drinking a lot of water.

What follows high amount of water intake may be diarrhoea because of blockage except in liquids. This animal’s condition gets poorer every day to an extent of showing extreme discomfort, and if no action is taken, the animal dies.

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 📑

▪️There is no vaccination that will help keep your animal safe from ingesting plastic bags. Your animal will also not pass large plastic material through the waste.

Some are lucky though, to pass them out when consumed in smaller pieces. There are no drugs for destroying plastic bags while in the animals’ stomach.

Luckily, some people have successfully used laxatives like high quantities of mineral oils, given to the animal to help breakdown solid materials and smoothen plastic to increase chances of slippery passage. This on the other hand, could complicate diarrhea.

As such, a sure way to try and save the animal from death is surgery to remove the plastics plus other waste items from the stomach by the help of a veterinary surgeon.

Surgery, again, will cost you much money, just imagine doctors’ fees and the loss of the animal whether most valued in the farm or not. It can be this painful, just because of the plastics we ignore around the animals. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is better than cure, keep the animal surrounding free of plastics, be selective on where to gather your animals to forage and ensure mineral supplements are availed to the animals.

Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

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