Cowpox: symptoms and diagnosis of the virus, treatment of cattle and prevention

Some infectious diseases in cows can be transmitted to humans. The danger of cowpox is that the disease harms cows, reduces productivity and makes production less profitable. Consider the causes of the disease, the characteristic symptoms, the treatment of cowpox and preventive measures that should prevent the occurrence of infection in the household.

What is this disease

Cowpox is a viral disease caused by a virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus. The pathogen can be transmitted from animal to human. In cows, manifestations of smallpox are noted only on the udder.The disease appears during the stall period or in the spring, often in milking cows of young age and in recently calved.

Cow pox is acute, subacute and chronic. The acute form lasts 3 weeks, proceeds with obvious symptoms. Subacute lasts from 21 to 25 days, characteristic symptoms such as a rash may not be observed. Recovery may occur without treatment after 3 weeks if the infection is mild.

Chronic smallpox is rare in cows and is characterized by alternating periods of severe symptoms and remissions.

Calves are the hardest hit by smallpox, as their immune systems are not yet perfect and cannot resist infection. If calves are left untreated, pathogens enter the respiratory and digestive systems, causing gastroenteritis and bronchopneumonia. In severe cases, the death of the young may occur. Therefore, if suspicious symptoms appear, animals should be examined by a veterinarian.

Causes of cattle

The main carriers of the pathogen are sick animals. Viruses are transmitted through secretions from the nose and mouth that get on the skin. The weakening of the immune system due to a lack of vitamins in the winter contributes to the development of the disease. The virus can be carried by blood-sucking insects and rodents. Especially often, the virus enters the cow's body through microdamages in the skin.

Smallpox spreads massively in the herd due to unfavorable conditions - cold or heat, high humidity in the room, dirt, lack of fresh air. Unbalanced feeding and lack of movement also contribute to lower immunity in cows. These factors together or separately lead to a weakening of the protective functions of the animal organism.

Cowpox symptoms

The incubation period for cowpox lasts 3-9 days, after which the symptoms characteristic of the infection begin to appear.On the first day, small reddened spots appear on the udder, in the mouth and on the nasal mucosa. Over the next 2-3 days, compacted nodules form at the site of roseola.

For another 3-4 days, the nodules turn into fluid-filled blisters. On the 10-12th day, they turn into purulent vesicles. After 2 weeks of symptom development, they become covered with dark crusts that crack and bleed. In appearance, the rash on the udder of cattle is round or slightly elongated, with a pronounced center and clearly defined.

Other symptoms of virus infection: loss of appetite, depression, increased temperature, fever, aggressiveness, reduced milk yield. In animals, the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose are swollen, the lymph nodes are inflamed. Since touching the inflamed places of the udder causes pain to the cow, during milking she tries not to let the person near her. The gait may change as the animal spreads its legs to avoid touching the udder.

Diagnosis of disease

The udder rash in smallpox has a characteristic appearance, so with some experience it is not difficult to identify it. However, tests are needed to rule out the possibility of other infections, the symptoms of which are also rashes.

To do this, take a blood sample from a sick animal, the contents of the vesicles, swabs from inflamed areas.

The material is examined in the laboratory, where the presence of the virus will be confirmed or refuted. If the diagnosis of "smallpox" is confirmed, the degree of development of the disease is also determined. After confirming the disease, sick individuals are immediately separated from he althy ones.

Features of the treatment of the disease

There are no special drugs that would destroy the smallpox virus in cows. Treatment is limited to supportive care.

Medicated methods of struggle

Animals are given antibiotics if there are secondary infections. They cannot destroy the virus. In order for the cow's body to fight the virus, they are given lactic acid and Vetom 11. The dosage and treatment regimen is prescribed by the veterinarian and is based on the severity of the disease.

Ulcers on the udder are treated with a 3% solution of Chloramine, potassium iodide and borax. The use of funds stops the further spread of the rash on the udder. Inflamed areas are lubricated with petroleum jelly, zinc or ichthyol ointment. Means dry the rash, speed up the regenerative processes. Ointments based on glycerin and vegetable oils soften the crusts to prevent them from cracking and bleeding. The nasopharynx of cows is washed with a 3% solution of boric acid. Cows are fed with liquid mixtures during the treatment period, then they are given wet mash. Water is drunk in plenty.Saturation of the body with fluid contributes to a speedy recovery.

Folk remedies and recipes

Complex, in addition to the main therapy, folk remedies are also used. These include feeding cows blackberry leaves, elder leaf, haulm and chives. The udder and other pockmarked areas are treated 2 times a day with herbal decoction of elderberry and sorrel.

Folk remedies are too weak against the smallpox virus, so you should not rely only on their action. Medicines should be the main treatment.

Epidemic prevention

When an infection occurs on the farm, it is necessary to separate sick animals from he althy ones and conduct a thorough examination of the entire livestock.Also disinfect the barn, stalls, inventory with formaldehyde (2%), caustic soda (4%), calcium oxide (20%). Feeders and milking devices - sodium hypochlorite (1 in 100).

The place where the manure is deposited should be disinfected with chlorine, the bedding should be burned. Animals can only be returned from quarantine 3 weeks after recovery.

Can I drink the milk of sick animals

Fresh, untreated milk from sick cows should not be drunk. But it is believed that it may be suitable for consumption after pasteurization or boiling. Milk should be milked as usual so that there is no stagnation and mastitis does not develop. If it is problematic to do this manually, a catheter must be used. Milked milk can be given to calves, but only after pre-boiling.

Smallpox shot

Cows are vaccinated with 2 types - against a strain of smallpox and smallpox mixed.In the first case, vaccination allows the animal to acquire lifelong immunity against infection, in the second case, it does not work constantly, only for a few months, then re-vaccination is required.

Other prevention measures

When new animals are purchased, they are first quarantined for a month. If no symptoms appear during this time, cows can be transferred to the general herd. It is necessary to regularly disinfect stalls and equipment, and do daily cleaning.

In spring and autumn, whitewash the walls of the room with lime, treat them from insects and rodents. Keep drinking bowls clean, prevent stagnant water, in which the smallpox virus favorably multiplies. The barn and stalls should be dry, warm, spacious, any discomfort that bad conditions cause in the animal increases the risk of disease. Feed animals with complete feed to avoid hypovitaminosis.

Cowpox, if detected early, can be cured, and the animals will be he althy again, return to the productive process.Treatment must be prescribed by a veterinarian and take place under his supervision. The use of medicines is mandatory, folk remedies do not have any noticeable effect. Recovered cows acquire lifelong immunity.

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