Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 9, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Surveillance
Surveillance AHVLA disease surveillance report
Acorn poisoning in cattle and sheep l Multiple cases of acorn poisoning in cattle and sheep following bumper crop l Salmonella Dublin infection causes abortions in cattle l Respiratory disease affecting different age groups of pigs on a nursery finisher unit l Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome cases diagnosed l A further case of suspect Marek’s disease in turkeys These are among matters discussed in the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency’s (AHVLA’s) disease surveillance report for November 2013 to January 2014.
Cattle
Enteric diseases An unusual case of presumed idiopathic necrotic enteritis (INE) was diagnosed by Langford in a six- to nine-month-old Holstein Friesian heifer that showed signs of malaise and constipation before death. At postmortem examination, focal raised necrotic lesions in the intestines up to 15 cm long were seen and there was a large volume of blood-stained fluid in the abdomen. Clostridial enteritis, salmonellosis, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) were all excluded. Histopathology was suggestive of INE, but this syndrome is usually seen in beef suckler calves aged six to 12 weeks. The group of 14 had been turned out one month previously and one other animal responding to treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories was similarly affected.
Parasitic diseases Shrewsbury reported six outbreaks of PGE. These were mostly in young weaned calves, with counts of trichostrongyle eggs ranging from 1250 to 4700 eggs per gram (epg) in faecal samples. However, a worm egg count of 950 epg was found in a three-and-a-halfyear-old bull that had been losing condition. The possibility of concurrent disease, such as Johne’s disease, reducing the animal’s resistance was suggested.
Toxicity alert There are some examples of toxicity in this report. Poisonings in food-producing species may be reportable to the Food Standards Agency as potential food safety incidents, and animals must be withdrawn from the food chain before slaughter for human consumption of meat and offal. Local AHVLA laboratories can provide further information; taking responsibility for prevention of food chain contamination is vital.
Reproductive diseases Salmonella Dublin
Carmarthen diagnosed Salmonella Dublin as the cause of abortion on six farms. This included one abortion storm on a 780-cow dairy unit where 29 heifers and several cows had aborted. In another outbreak, six cows aborted in a 110-cow seasonally calving dairy herd. Advice was given about the zoonotic potential of Salmonella species and the control of salmonellosis. A vaccine is available for S Dublin. Twenty-six outbreaks of S Dublin causing diarrhoea and malaise in calves were also reported.
Systemic diseases Vitamin A deficiency was diagnosed by Shrewsbury in a group of 20 yearling dairy bulls that were being intensively reared on a diet of wheat, oats, beans, protein supplement and limestone flour. Several animals had been noticed to be blind over one week. Blood samples from five of the animals had vitamin A concentrations of
This summary is produced by the AHVLA and is drawn from reports provided by the AHVLA laboratories at Aberystwyth, Bury St Edmunds, Carmarthen, Langford, Lasswade, Leahurst, Luddington, Newcastle, Penrith, Preston, Royal Veterinary College, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Sutton Bonington, Thirsk, Truro, Weybridge and Winchester. AHVLA monthly reports are available online at http://vla.defra.gov.uk/ reports/rep_surv.htm
Surveillance
Surveillance AHVLA disease surveillance report
Acorn poisoning in cattle and sheep l Multiple cases of acorn poisoning in cattle and sheep following bumper crop l Salmonella Dublin infection causes abortions in cattle l Respiratory disease affecting different age groups of pigs on a nursery finisher unit l Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome cases diagnosed l A further case of suspect Marek’s disease in turkeys These are among matters discussed in the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency’s (AHVLA’s) disease surveillance report for November 2013 to January 2014.
Cattle
Enteric diseases An unusual case of presumed idiopathic necrotic enteritis (INE) was diagnosed by Langford in a six- to nine-month-old Holstein Friesian heifer that showed signs of malaise and constipation before death. At postmortem examination, focal raised necrotic lesions in the intestines up to 15 cm long were seen and there was a large volume of blood-stained fluid in the abdomen. Clostridial enteritis, salmonellosis, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) were all excluded. Histopathology was suggestive of INE, but this syndrome is usually seen in beef suckler calves aged six to 12 weeks. The group of 14 had been turned out one month previously and one other animal responding to treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories was similarly affected.
Parasitic diseases Shrewsbury reported six outbreaks of PGE. These were mostly in young weaned calves, with counts of trichostrongyle eggs ranging from 1250 to 4700 eggs per gram (epg) in faecal samples. However, a worm egg count of 950 epg was found in a three-and-a-halfyear-old bull that had been losing condition. The possibility of concurrent disease, such as Johne’s disease, reducing the animal’s resistance was suggested.
Toxicity alert There are some examples of toxicity in this report. Poisonings in food-producing species may be reportable to the Food Standards Agency as potential food safety incidents, and animals must be withdrawn from the food chain before slaughter for human consumption of meat and offal. Local AHVLA laboratories can provide further information; taking responsibility for prevention of food chain contamination is vital.
Reproductive diseases Salmonella Dublin
Carmarthen diagnosed Salmonella Dublin as the cause of abortion on six farms. This included one abortion storm on a 780-cow dairy unit where 29 heifers and several cows had aborted. In another outbreak, six cows aborted in a 110-cow seasonally calving dairy herd. Advice was given about the zoonotic potential of Salmonella species and the control of salmonellosis. A vaccine is available for S Dublin. Twenty-six outbreaks of S Dublin causing diarrhoea and malaise in calves were also reported.
Systemic diseases Vitamin A deficiency was diagnosed by Shrewsbury in a group of 20 yearling dairy bulls that were being intensively reared on a diet of wheat, oats, beans, protein supplement and limestone flour. Several animals had been noticed to be blind over one week. Blood samples from five of the animals had vitamin A concentrations of
This summary is produced by the AHVLA and is drawn from reports provided by the AHVLA laboratories at Aberystwyth, Bury St Edmunds, Carmarthen, Langford, Lasswade, Leahurst, Luddington, Newcastle, Penrith, Preston, Royal Veterinary College, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Sutton Bonington, Thirsk, Truro, Weybridge and Winchester. AHVLA monthly reports are available online at http://vla.defra.gov.uk/ reports/rep_surv.htm
