Farm Clostridial Diseases In Sheep And Cattle

Front 1

How are clostridial organisms defined?

Back 1

Anaerobic, spore-forming, opportunistic, toxin-producing organisms

Front 2

Where are C perfringens organisms normally present?

Back 2

The intestines of sheep

Front 3

What causes an increase in C perfringen levels?

Back 3

A change in diet, causing overflow of undigested foor into the SI allows the saccharolytic bacteria to multiply rapidly in the anaerobic presence of carbs.

Front 4

What changes in diet/rumen can occur to increase C perfringens levels?

Back 4

Sudden changes
Insufficient dietary fibre
Severe GI parasitism

Front 5

What do C perfringens bacteria produce?

Back 5

Non-toxic protixins thatthen are converted to toxins by action of digestive enzymes

Front 6

What are the 3 manin conditions caused by C perfringens?

Back 6

Pulpy Kidney
Lamb dysentery
Struck

Front 7

What causes Lamb dysentery?

Back 7

C. perfringens Type B and the beta and episilon toxins

Front 8

What age group is affected by lamb dysentery?

Back 8

Healthy lambs less than 2 weeks (usu 1-3 days)

Front 9

Predisposing factors for lamb dysentery?

Back 9

Bad hygeine
Cold/wet springs

Front 10

C/S of lamb dysentery

Back 10

Sudden death of w/in 4 hours
Acute abd pain

Front 11

Lamb dysentery PM signs

Back 11

Dark red, ulcered intestines
Blood-stained peritoneal fluid
Pale/friable kidneys

Front 12

Diag of lamb dysentery?

Back 12

beta and episilon ELISA
Intestinal scrape and G stain

Front 13

What causes pulpy kidney?

Back 13

C. perfringens Type D

Front 14

C/S of pulpy kidney

Back 14

Sudden death
Hyperaesthesia
Ataxia
Progresses to recumbency and death

Front 15

What animals are affected by pulpy kidney?

Back 15

Either well grown (greedy!) lambs aged 4-10 weeks or fattening lambs aged 6-12 months

Front 16

Predisposing factors for pulpy kidney?

Back 16

Greedy lambs that eat a CHO rich diet and sugars spill over ino the SI from the abomasum. Also assd with a change in diet.

Front 17

Pulpy kidney PM?

Back 17

Excess peritoneal fluid
Congested/friable liver
Pale/swollen/autolysed kidney
Swollen viscera

Front 18

Diag pulpy kidney?

Back 18

Glucose in urine (dipstick)
Episilon toxin ELISA test
Brain biopsy

Front 19

What causes Struck?

Back 19

C. perfringens Type C, beta toxin

Front 20

C/S of struck

Back 20

Sudden death
Enteritis
Peritonitis

Front 21

What causes clostridial abomasitis?

Back 21

C. sordellii

Front 22

C/S of abomasitis?

Back 22

Sudden death
Bloated
Dull

Front 23

Cause of abomasitis?

Back 23

Rapid change in dietary fermentable CHO (lambs get into the creep and have too much sugar)

Front 24

Age group affected by abomasitis?

Back 24

3-10 week lambs

Front 25

Does abomasitis affect vacc or unvacc sheep?

Back 25

BOTH

Front 26

What is the best way to prevent C. perfringen enterotoxaemias?

Back 26

Vaccinate! Initial course is two vaccine inj 4-6 weeks apart when they enter breeding flock followed by an annula booster about 6 weeks before lambing.

Lambs protected for 16 weeks. Should get their first dose at 8-12 weeks followed by a booster 4 weeks later.

Front 27

What 3 steps should occur in the face of an enterotoxaemia outbreak?

Back 27

Start a vacc programme
Restrict feeding (decreases sugars)
Inject C. perfringens beta and episilon antitoxins in valuable animals

Front 28

What causes blackleg in sheep and cattle?

Back 28

C. chauvoei

Front 29

What are the predisposing factors for blackleg?

Back 29

Docking
Castration
Shearing under dirty conditions
Dirty needles
Root crops
Poor lambing hygeine

Front 30

C/S of blackleg?

Back 30

Depends on site of infection.

LIMBS - stiff, sc oedema, gas production

VULVA - swollen, purple vag, necrosis and erosion of extending muscles

HEAD - swollen whole face, bleeding from nose

All cases - dull, depressed, recumbency then DEATH

Front 31

What do the toxins of C chauvoei cause?

Back 31

Cellulitis
Necrotising myositis
Toxaemia
Gas production

Front 32

PM of blackleg?

Back 32

AUTOLYSES QUICKLY!

Oedematous, dark red m (esp spinal and legs)
Crepitus
Rancid smell
Oedema oozing from fascia
General toxaemia

Front 33

How to diagnose blackleg

Back 33

FRESH carcass PM
G+ rods in oedema fluid
FAT
Smear of bone marrow of rib as its the last place that the opportunistic C. septicum bacteria gets to!

Front 34

Most common blackleg area in cattle?

Back 34

Upper limbs
Spinal muscles

Front 35

Treatment of blackleg?

Back 35

Seldom effective.

Cleaning and surgical debridement
High dose penicillin
Fluids
Corticosteroids

Front 36

What causes black disease?

Back 36

C. novyi Type B, beta and alpha toxins

Front 37

What age is affected by black disease?

Back 37

All ages of sheep

Front 38

C/S of black disease?

Back 38

Sudden death

Front 39

What causes C. novyi to multiply?

Back 39

They are part of the normal flora of soils and sheep intestine. When the sheep has liver flukes leaving tracks of necrotic debris and inflam exudate this provides an excellent condition for multiplications and toxin production.

Front 40

PM signs of black disease?

Back 40

Again, autolyses quickly!

Engorged SC blood vessels = black colour to carcass
Dark liver with areas of pale foci (fluke migration!)

Front 41

Diag of black disease?

Back 41

ID of G+ rods in smears of cut liver tissue
+ FAT from liver tissue

Care, as found in healthy animals too must go with hx and PM findings

Front 42

What causes tetanus?

Back 42

C. tetani

Front 43

Who can get tetanus?

Back 43

ALL SPP!

Front 44

Where is C tetani found and how is it made infectious?

Back 44

Found in soil and causes disease when spores enter deep wounds with devitalised tissue (esp docking wounds!)

Reaches brain after 1-3 weeks causing a state of sustained spasm and rigidity

Front 45

C/S tetanus

Back 45

Sustained spasm - animals cannot eructate or swallow, laterally recumbent with extended neck and limbs, open mouth (lock jaw), protruded 3rd eyelid and stiff tail head.

Front 46

How do tetanus animals die?

Back 46

Asphixiation due to paralysis of resp muscles

Front 47

Diag of tetanus?

Back 47

No PM findings - all based on hx and C/S

Front 48

Treatment of tetanus?

Back 48

Easly causes with IV tetanus antitoxin, AB and AF but with a guarded prog.

Front 49

What causes braxy?

Back 49

C. septicum

Front 50

Who gets braxy?

Back 50

Hoggs feeding on frosted feed or turnips

Front 51

C/S of braxy?

Back 51

Sudden death
Severe abomasitis

Front 52

What causes malignant oedema?

Back 52

C. novyi, septicum and chauvoei

Front 53

What causes botulism?

Back 53

C. botulinum Types B, C and D

Front 54

Explain the types of C. botulinum

Back 54

C and D - from poultry litter on fields
B - carcass contamination of big bale silage

Front 55

Who gets botulism?

Back 55

ALL SPP!

Front 56

Why is C. botulinum different from the other forms of clostridia?

Back 56

Its the only one that doesn't cause toxin production

Front 57

C/S of botulism?

Back 57

Flaccid paralysis and incoordination starting in the pelvic limbs
Tongue protrudes
Recumbent within 24 hours

Front 58

What causes bacillary haemoglobinuria (red water)

Back 58

C. novyi Type D

Front 59

C/S of red water?

Back 59

Similar to black disease as following the tracts of liver fluke

Fever
Rumen stasis
Anaemia and jaundice
Death after 2-3 days

Front 60

Main vaccine for clostridial spp?

Back 60

Heptavac, SC over neck