Clostridial myositis in Cows (Bovis) | Vetlexicon
bovis - Articles

Clostridial myositis

ISSN 2398-2993

Contributor(s) :


Introduction

  • Cause:
    • Clostridial myositis in cattle presents as blackleg or malignant edema.
    • Cl chauvoei is responsible for causing Blackleg in cattle.
    • Cl chauvoei, cl. novyi, cl. Septicum and/or cl. Sordelli are responsible for malignant edema.
  • Signs:
    • Blackleg:
      • Acute death is the most common clinical finding .
      • If seen early in the disease process sudden onset depression, pyrexia and initial stiffness progressing to lameness and recumbency.
      • Death follows shortly after the onset of the clinical syndrome.
    • Malignant edema:
      • Acute painful swelling and pronounced edema of muscle group or vagina/vulva.
      • Acute death.
  • Diagnosis: fluorescent antibody tests on slides from the primary lesion.
  • Treatment:
    • 25,000-40,000 IU Procaine Penicillin per kg body weight has been advocated.
    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
    • Intra-venous fluid therapy.
  • Prognosis: poor.

Geographic incidence

  • Worldwide.

Age predisposition

  • Malignant edema; cattle of all ages can be infected.
  • Blackleg; cases most commonly occur in young animals aged 6 to 24 months, although any animal can be infected.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

  • Clostridia Clostridium spp are Gram positive, spore bearing anerobic bacteria.
  • They are ubiquitous in the environment and are widely dispersed in soil and vegetative matter, whilst also serving as a commensal within the intestines of many ruminant species.
  • Blackleg:
    • Ingestion of spores allows bacteremic spread to the viscera and muscle tissue where they may lie dormant for a prolonged period of time, before a trigger factor initiates the onset of clinical disease.
  • Malignant edema:
    • Mixed clostridial infection normally occurs in association with a deep penetrating wound which favours anerobic conditions for replication or infection of the vulva/vagina in association with dystocia Dystocia.
    • Rapid multiplication of clostridial spores within the damaged tissues causes release of its associated toxin causes vast tissue damage, often necrotizing and hemorrhagic in nature.

Predisposing factors

General

  • Blackleg: ingestion of soil or vegetative matter containing Cl. Chauvoei spores by cattle at pasture, or through soil contamination or spoilage of conserved forages.
  • Malignant edema: a deep penetrating wound favouring anaerobic conditions for clostridial replication or dystocia associated injury, allowing bacterial infection.
  • Blackleg and Malignant edema: poor hygiene associate with injection site and technique.

Specific

  • Ingestion of Clostridiam chauvoei spores.
  • Trigger factors which reduce oxygen tension or trauma to tissues, which may include muscle bruising (such as the result of a kick), injection site reactions and dystocia.
  • Tooth eruption during time of spore ingestion, allowing systemic spread to peripheral sites. Tooth eruption
  • Deep penetrating wounds allowing bacterial entry and replication under anerobic conditions.

Timecourse

  • Hours.

Epidemiology

  • Normally sporadic in nature, with a small number of animals affected in any at risk population.
  • However, in the case of Blackleg, soil or vegetative contamination of conserved forages and their subsequent feeding may result in epizootic episodes.

Diagnosis

Subscribe To View

This article is available to subscribers.

Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.

Treatment

Subscribe To View

This article is available to subscribers.

Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.

Prevention

Subscribe To View

This article is available to subscribers.

Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.

Outcomes

Subscribe To View

This article is available to subscribers.

Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

Other sources of information

  • Mueller K (2015) Clostridial diseases in cattle and sheep. Cattle Practice 23 (1), 127-131.
  • Otter A & Davies I (2015) Disease features and diagnostic sampling of cattle and sheep post mortem examinations. In Practice 37, 293-305.
  • Harwood D G (2007) Clostridial Disease in Cattle: Part 1. UK Vet 12 (1), 31-33.