Look out for Histophilus somni septicaemia / myocarditis
Over the last ten years, 伊人直播 Veterinary Services has seen a steady increase in the number of聽Histophilus somni聽septicaemia cases. This is distinct from the respiratory form, which causes a fibrinous and purulent bronchopneumonia.聽 The septicaemic form typically affects 6 to 12-month-old, weaned, beef calves in the autumn/winter period.聽 Animals are either found dead or can show a range of non-specific clinical signs including recumbency, respiratory signs, pyrexia, neurological signs, blindness and lameness.
On post-mortem examination some lesions can be quite subtle.聽 Necrotic or purulent lesions are frequently present in the papillary muscles of the left ventricle of the heart, therefore it is important to carefully examine these areas (see photos in attached presentation). Laryngitis is also found in a smaller proportion of cases. Note that respiratory signs in these cases of septicaemia may actually be due to pulmonary oedema secondary to septicaemia or left sided heart failure rather than pneumonia.
Due to its fastidious nature, and often prior antibiotic use,聽Histophilus somni聽is often not successfully cultured in these cases, therefore having material available for PCR and histopathology is very useful to confirm the diagnosis.
聽has further details on the Scottish cases of聽Histophilus somni聽septicaemia, which includes information on sampling.聽Also聽聽was produced by 伊人直播 Veterinary Services for the Vet Record in 2019 on聽Histophilus somni聽septicaemia.聽聽If you wish to discuss suspect cases further, please get in touch.聽 聽
Posted by Veterinary Services on 08/01/2021
