Approaches for a field diagnosis of abamectin poisoning in calves / Abordagem para um diagnóstico a campo da intoxicação por abamectina em bezerros

An approach for the diagnosis of an abamectin outbreak in calves in the field is described and discussed. In a Midwestern Brazilian property, nine out of a 52 newborn calves were affected and died, making up for morbidity, mortality, and lethality ratios of 17.3%, 17.3%, and 100%, respectively. Major clinical signs included tremors in various muscle groups, inability to stand, and difficult, wheezing breathing. Each affected calf had been treated subcutaneously with abamectin (0.4mg/kg/body weight). No lesions were found at necropsy or at histological examination. Major diseases of newborn calves were included in the differential diagnosis.(AU)

Uma abordagem para o diagnóstico de um surto de abamectina em bezerros a campo é descrita e discutida. Numa propriedade do Centro-Oeste brasileiro, nove de um lote de 52 bezerros de 3 dias de idade foram afetados e morreram, perfazendo quocientes de morbidade, mortalidade e letalidade, respectivamente, de 17,3%, 17,3% e 100%. Os principais sinais clínicos incluíam tremores em vários grupos musculares, incapacidade em se manter em pé, e respiração difícil e estertorosa. Cada bezerro afetado havia sido tratado por via subcutânea com abamectina, na dose de 0,4mg/kg/peso corporal. Não foram encontradas lesões na necropsia, nem no exame histológico. As principais doenças de bezerros recém-nascidos foram incluídas no diagnóstico diferencial.(AU)

Outbreak investigation of septicemic salmonellosis in calves.

INTRODUCTION: An early and accurate diagnosis of septicemic salmonellosis is critical for implementing timely and proper treatment, prevention, and control measures. METHODOLOGY: Here, we report a study on three outbreaks of septicemic salmonellosis in calves from Midwestern Brazil. RESULTS: the morbidity, mortality and lethality rates were of 10.55%, 2.79%, and 26.4%, respectively. Higher susceptibility was detected in Bos taurus than in Bos indicus cattle. Clinical manifestations consisted of apathy, hyperthermia, difficulty breathing and panting, and pallor of the mucous membranes. Chronic cases had necrosis of the tail tip and ears. Gross findings included enlarged liver, non-collapsed edematous lungs and diphtheritic enteritis. Significant histopathological changes included paratyphoid nodules in the liver and acute interstitial pneumonia. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Dublin was detected by culture and by PCR from the blood of live calves, and from the spleen, liver, bile, mesenteric lymph node and lung samples of necropsied calves. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that in clinical cases of septicemic salmonellosis, blood samples are better than fecal samples for detection of the agent, being a sound test to identify animal carriers in the herd.