cowman30":3vftj2ig said:
KNERSIE":3vftj2ig said:
redcowsrule33":3vftj2ig said:
Clostridial disease or anthrax.
Have these cows been posted at a lab or on the farm with samples sent in? Sometimes sending the whole carcass gets you farther.
Certainly sounds like it could be clostridial related. Isn't anthrax a controlled disease in the USA? I would have thought that the vet would have reported this to the authorities long before now incase it might be anthrax?
Anthrax is nearly un heard of these days. Granted it rears its ugly head in the western states from time to time but is rare. They do supposedly make an anthrax vaccine.
There are outbreaks in the US every year. It is uncommon enough that a vet may not think of it as a differential. Floods and drought cause soil erosion that brings the spores out from the soil. Just because it is rare doesn't mean it can't happen.
From :
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/beef/v561w.htm
"Symptoms
Symptoms associated with anthrax depend to a certain degree on the species involved and the route of infection. When the anthrax organism enters the animal's body through the mouth or nostrils, the symptoms occur soon after infection (acute form) and death follows rapidly. When infection takes place through the skin because of injury or insect bites, it appears localized at the site of injury in the initial stage.
The affected area initially is hot and swollen and becomes cold and insensitive. Later, the infection can become generalized.
Anthrax usually is a fatal disease with no symptoms observed. Upon or near death, blood oozes from the body openings. This blood is heavily laden with anthrax organisms. The carcass has a marked bloating and decomposes rapidly.
If the infection is less acute, the animal may stagger, have difficulty breathing, tremble, collapse and die. In horses, colic may be observed. Edema and swelling may be seen over the body, particularly at the brisket. Illness is observed for one or two days, but it may last five days; symptoms are preceded by fever, with a period of excitement in which the animal may charge anyone nearby. This is followed by depression in cattle or sheep.
Sometimes the anthrax organism localizes itself in the throat area. The tongue, throat and neck are extremely swollen and a frothy blood-tinged discharge comes from the mouth. Though this is the typical form of anthrax observed in swine, it also may occur in cattle and sheep."
If you are compiling a differential list, you have to include it. I agree that black leg or malignant edema are
far more likely but you have to consider everything. That's why I asked if the entire carcass has ever been submitted as the labs see more odd problems than the average vet.
