Clostridial Diseases
Description
Clostridial diseases are deadly diseases that strike cattle suddenly, often causing death even before any clinical signs are observed. The bacteria that cause these diseases create spores that are very hardy and can live for long periods of time in the environment, even in extreme heat, cold or moisture.
These spores are found everywhere in the environment and can easily be picked up by grazing cattle or enter the body through a wound. The bacteria multiply rapidly in damaged tissue and release toxins that travel through the bloodstream. Death often occurs so rapidly that treatment is not an option.
Some types of clostridia are normal inhabitants of the intestinal tract. Overeating can trigger these bacteria to multiply and release deadly toxins. Botulism, the deadly food-borne disease that affects humans and animals, is a clostridial infection.
Clostridial diseases affect the animal's muscle (blackleg), liver (black disease or red water) or gut (enterotoxemia or purple gut), depending on which bacteria causes disease.
Animals affected
Cattle are susceptible to clostridial diseases throughout their lives. Apparently healthy animals with no outward signs of disease are often affected. Young well-fed calves up to one month of age, and cows or calves recently put on a high-energy ration, are at risk, as are heifers and mature cows on pasture. Any injury or invasive procedure such as surgery, birth or puncture wounds can also create an opportunity for these bacteria to invade the body and release toxins.
Common names
Blackleg, purple gut, black disease, enterotoxemia, overeating disease, malignant edema, sord, infectious hepatitis, red water, enteritis, tetanus, botulism
Causes
Clostridium species including:
- Cl. septicum
- Cl. chauvoei
- Cl. haemolyticum
- Cl. novyi
- Cl. perfringens Types A, B, C and D
- Cl. sordellii
- Cl. tetani
- Cl. botulinim
Contributing factors
- Injury
- Puncture wounds
- Bruising
- Liver fluke infection
- Abrupt diet changes
- Overeating
- Castration
- Surgery
Clinical signs
Clinical signs will differ depending on the type of bacteria.
- Sudden death in apparently healthy animals
- Anorexia (loss of appetite)
- High fever
- Port-wine-colored urine
- Lethargy or depression, with death occurring in 6–24 hours
- Muscle spasms
- Localized stiffness
- Acute lameness
- Swelling in hip or shoulder with a “crackling” sensation when skin is pressed
Disease management: prevention
Vaccination is a safe, economical and reliable strategy for preventing clostridial disease. Various combinations of clostridial vaccines are available to help protect against these deadly bacteria.
See Vaccination Recommendations for specific vaccination suggestions for cows and calves.
Pfizer clostridial vaccines: Ultrabac® 7/Somubac®
Disease management: treatment
Clostridial infection progresses so quickly it is rarely possible to treat this disease with antibiotics. In selected cases antitoxins are available to help in treatment.
Your veterinarian plays a valuable role in accurately diagnosing disease and suggesting the best therapy. In the face of some disease outbreaks, preventive antibiotic and/or antitoxin therapy may be warranted.
Economic impacts
Since clostridial disease often affects the healthiest, fastest-growing calves and highest-producing cows, the economic impact can be devastating. Blackleg or other clostridial diseases can steal your investment in a promising replacement heifer or a reliable mature cow.
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