Paratyphoid calves: causes and symptoms, treatment and prevention

In young cattle, immunity is still weak, their body is susceptible to attacks by pathogenic microorganisms. The causative agents of paratyphoid fever in calves are bacteria of the genus Salmonella. They are resistant to most antibiotics, in the process of life they release a lot of toxins, negatively affect the immunity of a sick animal. The disease is accompanied by profuse diarrhea, and if left untreated, the calf dies.

Description of disease

Paratyphoid is an infectious pathology of bacterial origin. Pathogenic bacteria infect the intestines of young individuals, causing an acute inflammatory process.The causative agent of paratyphoid is Gertner's Salmonella, which causes acute food intoxication not only in animals, but also in humans. Toxic substances released by bacteria accumulate in the soft tissues of calves, so the meat of infected animals must be disposed of.

A person who has consumed salmonella-infected veal becomes severely poisoned. Salmonella is a rod-shaped microorganism with rounded edges. In the external environment, it is active, resistant to negative factors, does not respond to high temperatures and most antibiotic substances. But susceptible to antiseptics, which contain lysol (cresol soap) and creolin.

Causes of occurrence

The emergence of paratyphoid contributes to non-compliance with the conditions of livestock.

Main causes of paratyphoid infection in calves:

crowded content in cramped barn;
poor lighting;
unsanitary conditions;
poor quality feeding, use of spoiled food.

The disease is aggravated by low temperature in the barn, due to which the immune system of calves is weakened. But the normalization of temperature conditions does not help if the animals are already infected, since salmonella is immune to temperature changes.

Bacteria enter the body through the respiratory tract. And in the external environment, salmonella are found with the feces and urine of diseased individuals. The infection can enter directly into the calf's digestive tract if the calf eats contaminated food or drinks water.

High probability of transmission of paratyphoid to a calf from a sick lactating cow. In disadvantaged farms, adult cattle often become a carrier of salmonella.

Forms and symptoms of paratyphoid in calves

The incubation period of paratyphoid lasts from 5 days to 2 weeks. The infection affects the nervous system, the digestive tract, and later, in the absence of proper treatment, the joints.

Paratyphoid in calves occurs in three forms.

Sharp shape

Seen in calves less than a month old.

The main symptoms of the acute form:

fever, in which body temperature rises to 40-41 °C;
fetid diarrhea with mucous inclusions, sometimes with blood streaks;
weakness, powerlessness, inability of the calf to get up from the litter;
conjunctivitis accompanied by profuse lacrimation;
rhinitis, discharge from the nasal passages of a calf mucous mass with serous impurities;
cough.

Conjunctivitis and runny nose appear a few days after diarrhea.Rhinitis is not observed in all cases, and the calf usually begins to cough when the owner, having opened the barn door, lets in cool air. With advanced paratyphoid, limbs swell, convulsions are observed, consciousness is depressed. But until the very death, the pet eats well.

If the body temperature fluctuates frequently in acute paratyphoid, the calf's survival rate is high. If the pet suffers from profuse diarrhea, the fever does not go away, lethargy and weakness increase, then there is no doubt about the imminent death.

Subacute form

Revealed in calves that have reached the age of one month. Lasts 3-5 days.

Symptoms of subacute paratyphoid:

poor appetite;
short-lived fever in which the temperature rises to 40-41 °C;
mild diarrhea;
rhinitis with clear nasal discharge;
mild cough, wheezing breath.

Cough and wheezing are not always noted. If there are no aggravating pathologies, the pet recovers.

Chronic

Acute paratyphoid passes into the chronic form. Inflammation of the intestine gradually goes out, diarrhea stops, but the infection moves to the lung tissue. The sick calf breathes heavily and frequently, sometimes with wheezing and wheezing. When listening with inhalation and exhalation, wheezing is heard, with percussion (tapping), dullness of sounds is noted.

Duration of chronic paratyphoid - up to 2 months. The probability of death in the absence of proper treatment is high, as the pet's body is in an exhausted state.

Diagnosis

To detect pathogenic microorganisms, an agglutination reaction is carried out in the laboratory - precipitation of adherent bacteria under the influence of antibodies in an electrolyte medium. The results of the analysis are often overestimated not only in patients, but also in nearby he althy animals. An accurate diagnosis is made by the veterinarian after the autopsy of the dead calf. What the autopsy shows in different forms of paratyphoid is indicated in the table. organs

Changes acutemucous membraneshemorrhages liver and spleenswollen, hemorrhaging lungs subacute stomach and intestinesinflamedliver and spleen beaten gray spotslungs red, with tissue thickening and blood clots in different places, the bronchial tree is inflamed, inside it has mucous and purulent accumulations, swollen and reddened lymph nodes near the lungs lungs abundantly strewn with necrotic spots, bronchi clogged with purulent mass, mucous membrane inflamed, with many hemorrhages



	rich red, filled with blood, hardened in places
	cardiac muscle	mostly degenerate


	changed in the same way as in the acute form of the disease

Treatment methods

The owner must immediately isolate sick individuals, and disinfect the barn. The most reliable drug for paratyphoid is "Bacteriophage". It is sold in 20 ml bottles, 4 pieces per box. The calf is given orally 3 times a day, 2.5 bottles for mild paratyphoid fever, 5 bottles for severe.

Of the effective drugs, one can note the suspension "Klamoksil" and the injection solution "Terramycin". The first drug is injected into the muscle, the dose is 1 ml per 10 kg of body weight. In severe cases of paratyphoid, after 2 days, the injection is repeated. The second drug is much stronger in action, it is injected once into the muscle in the same dosage.

You can still treat a calf with oral preparations Sulgin, Levomycetin, Furazolidone. They are added to compound feed 3 times a day, the dose is 3-8 mg per 1 kg of body weight. Drugs can be alternated.A pet undergoing treatment is given nicotinamide (vitamin B_{3), the daily dose is 100 mg per 1 kg of feed. A paratyphoid calf is kept in quarantine for 3 months.}

Possible consequences

In a sick pet, brain tissue swells, hemorrhages occur in the organs of the reproductive and urinary systems. In some cases, pathological changes in the liver and spleen are possible. The main impact of the infection falls on the intestines, inflammation begins, the functional state of the mucous tissues lining the intestinal tube is disturbed. In advanced cases, the calf has cramps in the limbs - this is a sign of damage to the articular tissues.

In the acute form, calves in many cases die within 1-2 days after the onset of symptoms due to blood poisoning. With proper and timely treatment, the mortality of young individuals can be reduced to 3%, and even save all pets.

Vaccination and preventive measures

The main preventive measure is to keep clean. The barn should be regularly cleaned and disinfected, the bedding changed, and the feeders and bowls from which the calves eat should be washed. Lime mortar is recommended as a disinfectant. The room should be dry, ventilated, spacious. It is important to keep livestock equipment clean and feed the animals well.

The second preventive measure is livestock vaccination. Cows can be carriers of paratyphoid, they infect newborn calves, and those whose immune system is not yet strong, the body is weak, cannot fight the infection. Therefore, a calf born to an unvaccinated cow is immediately isolated. Cattle are vaccinated against paratyphoid with a concentrated formol alum vaccine. The dosage and frequency of vaccinations is determined by the veterinarian. You can not treat and vaccinate animals at your own discretion, all actions must be coordinated with a veterinarian.