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Abstract

Case Description—A 10-year-old Longhorn cow pregnant with a valuable fetus was evaluated because of progressive inspiratory dyspnea of 6 weeks' duration.

Clinical Findings—Physical examination findings were consistent with upper respiratory tract obstruction. A large pedunculated soft tissue mass was evident in the mid-dorsal aspect of the pharynx during palpation and endoscopic examination. Results of microscopic examination of transendoscopic fine-needle aspirates and a biopsy specimen were suggestive of a bacterial granuloma.

Treatment and Outcome—Transtracheal intubation was performed, and the mass was excised with a chain écraseur. Results of histologic examination were consistent with a diagnosis of actinobacillosis. The owner reported that the cow was doing well without any recurrence of respiratory distress 8 months after surgery.

Clinical Relevance—Findings suggested that pharyngeal granuloma resulting from actinobacillosis should be included in the differential diagnoses when examining mature cattle with upper respiratory tract obstruction and that a chain écraseur may be useful for excising soft tissue pharyngeal masses in cattle.

Full access
in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate a rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting technique for discriminating among Pasteurella multocida isolates from laboratory rabbits.

Sample Population—33 P multocida isolates from rabbits with clinical pasteurellosis.

Procedure—PCR assays were conducted with 2 minisatellites (core sequence and modified core sequence of phage M13) and 2 microsatellites ([GTG]5 and [GACA]4). Each bacterium was assigned to a PCR type for each of the primers used. Boiled bacterial extracts and purified genomic DNA were compared by use of PCR assays for phage M13 and (GACA)4. Plasmids were isolated from each bacterium, and their influence on PCR fingerprint was determined, using boiled extracts as a DNA source.

Results—M13 core sequence and M13 modified core sequence yielded 5 and 8 PCR types, respectively. The microsatellites (GTG)5 and (GACA)4 yielded 4 and 9 PCR fingerprint types, respectively. Fingerprint patterns obtained by use of isolated DNA differed from those obtained by use of boiled extracts, although discrimination among P multocida isolates was similar. The presence or absence of plasmids did not affect PCR fingerprints.

Conclusion—Single primer PCR fingerprinting with minisatellite and microsatellite primers is an efficient and reproducible method for the discrimination of P multocida isolates from rabbits and can be performed directly, using boiled bacterial extracts as a source of template, although more bands were obtained from pure genomic DNA. (Am J Vet Res 2000;61:305–309)

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To compare clinical disease and lung lesions in calves experimentally inoculated with Histophilus somni 5 days after metaphylactic administration of tildipirosin or tulathromycin.

ANIMALS Twenty-four 3-month-old Holstein and Holstein-crossbreed steers.

PROCEDURES Calves were randomly allocated to 3 groups of 8 calves. On day 0, calves in group 1 received tildipirosin (4 mg/kg, SC), calves in group 2 received tulathromycin (2.5 mg/kg, SC), and calves in group 3 received isotonic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (1 mL/45 kg, SC; control). On day 5, calves were inoculated with 10 mL of a solution containing H somni strain 7735 (1.6 × 109 CFUs/mL, intrabronchially; challenge). Calves were clinically evaluated on days 5 through 8 and euthanized on day 8. The lungs were grossly evaluated for evidence of pneumonia, and bronchial secretion samples underwent bacteriologic culture.

RESULTS The mean clinical score for each group was significantly increased 12 hours after challenge, compared with that immediately before challenge, and was significantly lower for tildipirosin-treated calves on days 6, 7, and 8, compared with those for tulathromycin-treated and control calves. The mean percentage of lung consolidation for tildipirosin-treated calves was significantly lower than those for tulathromycin-treated and control calves. Histophilus somni was isolated from the bronchial secretions of some tulathromycin-treated and control calves but was not isolated from tildipirosin-treated calves.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that metaphylactic administration of tildipirosin to calves 5 days prior to H somni challenge prevented subsequent culture of the pathogen from bronchial secretions and was more effective in minimizing clinical disease and lung lesions than was metaphylactic administration of tulathromycin.

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To correlate serum concentrations of fibrinogen (Fib), haptoglobin (Hap), serum amyloid-A (SAA), and α-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) with clinical respiratory tract disease and response to treatment in transport-stressed feedlot cattle fed vitamin E-supplemented diets.

Animals—387 heifer calves (mean initial weight, 197 kg).

Procedure—Calves purchased from an order buyer were delivered to a feedlot to study the effects of dietary supplementation with 2,000 IU of vitamin E for 0, 7, 14, or 28 days after arrival. Serum or plasma Fib, Hap, SAA, and AGP concentrations were measured on days 0, 7, and 28 after arrival as well as at the time of treatment for respiratory tract disease with antimicrobial drugs and after completion of treatment.

Results—Vitamin E supplementation was associated with decreased treatment costs. In cattle that were not recognized as sick or responded positively to 1 antimicrobial treatment, serum Hap concentrations were significantly lower on days 0 and 7 than concentrations for cattle that required > 1 treatment. Serum Hap concentrations and ratios of Hap to SAA on day 0 significantly correlated with the number of antimicrobial treatments required. Serum Hap concentrations at the time of initial treatment were significantly lower for cattle that required only 1 treatment, compared with those that required > 1 treatment.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Serum Hap concentrations are of potential value for use in assessing feedlot cattle that may become ill as a result of respiratory tract disease and for use in monitoring treatment efficacy. (Am J Vet Res 2002; 63:1111–1117)

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To determine efficacy of intranasal vaccination of rabbits with Pasteurella multocida A:3 outer membrane proteins (OMP) expressing iron-regulated OMP (IROMP) in conferring protection against experimental challenge exposure.

Animals—52 male New Zealand White rabbits.

Procedure— Rabbits were vaccinated intranasally on days 0, 7, and 14; some vaccines included cholera toxin (CT) as an adjuvant. Concentrations of intranasal IgA and serum IgG antibodies against P multocida OMP were determined. In experiment A, rabbits were vaccinated with either phospate-buffered saline solution (PBSS), PBSS-CT, OMP-CT, or IROMP-CT, challenge-exposed intranasally on day 16, and euthanatized and necropsied on day 28. Rabbits were also vaccinated with OMP or IROMP without CT and were not challenge-exposed. In experiment B, rabbits were vaccinated with PBSS, PBSS-CT, IROMP, or IROMP-CT. On day 17, rabbits were challenge-exposed intranasally .Nasal bacteria and antibodies were determined on day 24.

Results—In experiment A, OMP-CT vaccination stimulated mucosal and systemic antibody responses to the bacterium and enhanced resistance against challenge exposure. Intranasal bacterial counts were not significantly reduced. Vaccination with IROMP-CT stimulated mucosal and systemic antibodies, enhanced resistance to challenge exposure, and significantly reduced nasal bacterial counts. In experiment B, natural infection was detected in several rabbits at challenge exposure; however, IROMP-CT-vaccinated rabbits had significantly higher serum and nasal antibody responses, compared with other rabbitsIROMP-CT-vaccinated rabbits had significantly lower nasal bacterial counts compared to control rabbits.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Intranasal vaccination of rabbits with P multocida outer membranes containing IROMP and CT stimulated immunity against experimental pneumonic pasteurellosis. (Am J Vet Res 2001;62:697–703)

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To detect bovine adenovirus serotype 7 (BAV-7) infections in calves by use of viral isolation and serologic testing.

Animals—205 postweaning calves.

Procedure—121 calves were assembled by an order buyer through auction markets in eastern Tennessee and transported to New Mexico where they were commingled with 84 healthy ranch-reared calves. Tests included viral isolation in cell culture from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and detection of serum BAV-7 antibodies by use of microtitration viral neutralization.

Results —BAV-7 was isolated from PBL of 8 calves and seroconversion to BAV-7 was detected for 38 of 199 (19.1%) calves. Concurrent bovine viral diarrhea virus infections were detected in most calves from which BAV-7 was isolated.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance —Results of our study indicate that BAV-7 infections can be found in postweaning commingled calves and may develop more commonly in calves with concurrent infections with viruses such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:976–978).

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To identify any adverse effects on health or performance in young dairy calves fed clinoptilolite mixed with milk replacer.

Animals—26 male Holstein calves (1 to 7 days old).

Procedures—Twice daily for 28 days, calves were fed milk replacer with no clinoptilolite (control group; n = 8), 0.5% clinoptilolite (low-dosage group; 9), or 2% clinoptilolite (high-dosage group; 9); each calf consumed approximately 12% of its body weight (based on the replacer solids in the milk replacer mixture)/d. For each calf, subjective health assessments, weight and rectal temperature measurements, and CBC and serum biochemical analyses were performed at intervals. All calves underwent necropsy.

Results—2 calves were euthanized during the experiment because of bronchopneumonia or enteritis. Body weight and average daily gain did not differ among treatment groups. The percentage of monocytes and serum total protein concentration in the low-dosage group were higher than values in the control and high-dosage groups. Compared with values for either clinoptilolite-treated group, BUN concentration was greater in the control group. Serum globulin concentration differed significantly among groups (2.77, 2.50, and 2.36 g/dL in the low-dosage, control, and high-dosage groups, respectively). At necropsy, gross lesions associated with clinoptilolite treatment were not detected in any of the calves.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Even under stressful conditions, clinoptilolite fed at low or high dosages did not affect the performance of dairy calves and had no negative effect on WBC count and blood metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities. Clinoptilolite ingestion was not associated with treatment-specific gross changes.

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate serum haptoglobin concentration at feedlot arrival and subsequent performance and morbidity and mortality rates of calves that developed bovine respiratory disease.

Animals—360 heifer calves and 416 steer and bull calves.

Procedures—Serum samples were obtained from cattle at the time of arrival to a feedlot (day −1) and analyzed for haptoglobin concentration. In experiment 1, calves were classified into groups with a low (< 1.0 μg/mL), medium (1.0 to 3.0 μg/mL), or high (> 3.0 μg/mL) serum haptoglobin concentration and allotted into pens on the basis of group. In experiment 2, calves were classified as having or not having detectable serum haptoglobin concentrations.

Results—In experiment 1, average daily gain from days 1 to 7 decreased as haptoglobin concentration increased. Dry-matter intake (DMI) from days 1 to 21 decreased with increasing haptoglobin concentration, and DMI typically decreased from days 1 to 63. Total bovine respiratory disease morbidity rate typically increased with increasing haptoglobin concentration. At harvest, no differences in carcass characteristics were observed on the basis of haptoglobin concentration. In experiment 2, cattle with measureable serum haptoglobin concentrations at arrival weighed less throughout the experiment, gained less from days 1 to 7, and had lower DMI from days 1 to 42. Overall morbidity rate was not different between groups, but cattle with detectable serum haptoglobin concentrations had higher odds of being treated 3 times.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Serum haptoglobin concentration in cattle at the time of feedlot arrival was not associated with overall performance but may have limited merit for making decisions regarding targeted prophylactic treatment.

Full access
in American Journal of Veterinary Research