Studies on respiratory affections in cattle

Clinical examination revealed that all affections were confined in 62 out of 153 dried nonpregnant cows, 55 of them showed respiratory symptoms including cough, nasal discharge and different abnormal sounds auscultated in the lungs. Moreover, 7 cows suffered from the same respiratory symptoms in addition to encapsulated subcutaneous abscesses of painful nature. Eleven cows died, postmortem findings showed either mucoid, mucopurulent or purulent discharge in the upper respiratory tract, different stages of pneumonia, multiple abscesses of variable size [3-10 cm diameter] on the surfaces of lungs and livers and yielded thick creamy pus, enlarged liver and congestion of the intestinal mucosa. Examination of blood films during fever revealed bipolar organisms. Bacteriological examination revealed isolation of Pasteurella multocida and /or Actinomyces pyogenes. Antibiogram determination indicated that P. multocida isolates were sensitive to gentamicin [75.69%], erythromycin [53.45%]. trimethoprimplus sulfa [51.72%], nalidxic acid [50%], while the A. pyogenes isolates were highly sensitive to gentamicin [100%], flumequine [96.96%], nalidixic acid [75.74%], erythromycin [63.63%] and cephalothin [60.6%]. Trials for isolations of virus, mycoplasma, fungus revealed negative results

Some studies on enterotoxemia in calves

Sudden death after a short period of depression was reported in 21 well nourished and rapidly growing Friesian calves, 8-12 weeks old, belonged to a private farm contained more than 1500 heads of Friesian cattle of different ages. Clinical examination of contact calves proved that 74 of them were feverish [up to 41.5C]. Congestion of mucous membrane, dyspnea and anorexia with acanthocytosis as revealed by blood examination was also observed. Post-mortum examination of dead calves showed bloody fluids in the thoracic and abdominal cavities with petechial hemorrhages on the epicardium and endocardium. Severe hemorrhagic enteritis with minute ulcers in the intestinal mucosa was also observed. The intestinal contents were bloody. Liver and kidneys were swollen and the urinary bladder was exp and ed with bloody urine. Bacteriological examination of the intestinal ulcers showed Gram-positive bacilli. Toxin antitoxin neutralization test on the filtrates of the intestinal contents revealed that Cl. perfringens types A and D were detected. Parasitological examination and trials for virus isolation revealed negative results. The serum biochemical values of diseased calves revealed that total globulins, AST and ALT activities and urea nitrogen were significantly increased, while the value of total proteins, albumin, glucose and total cholesterol were significantly decreased. There were no significant changes in the values of serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus and creatinine, compared with apparently healthy contact calves. Analysis of ration showed negative results for aflatoxin. Affected calves responded successfully to parenteral administration of penicillin, fluid therapy after changes of ration