Introduction

• Respiratory disease outbreaks in cattle over 24 months of age are far less common than in young stock. 
• The majority of respiratory disease cases in adults affect individual animals.
• If confronted with an outbreak of respiratory disease in adult cattle, the same principles and diagnostic approaches that apply to young stock can be used Calf respiratory disease: overview.
• Where economics allow, disease in individual animals can be investigated using broncho-alveolar lavage Broncho-alveolar lavage, serology, radiography, endoscopy and ultrasonography.
• The same pathogens and risk factors are relevant for both young stock and adults, although adult cattle are more likely to possess adaptive immunity (e.g. antibodies) to the most common pathogens and are generally less susceptible to the ‘stressors’ that underpin respiratory disease outbreaks in young stock. 
• Treatment principles in adults are also similar to young stock although many products are not licenced for lactating dairy cows or have long milk withdrawals.

Upper respiratory tract

Broncho-pneumonia

Interstitial pneumonia

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Onono J O et al (2017) Policy for delivery of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia control strategies in sub-Saharan Africa. Rev Sci Tech 36 (1), 195 – 205.
• Scott P R (2013) Clinical presentation, auscultation recordings, ultrasonographic findings and treatment response of 12 adult cattle with chronic suppurative pneumonia: case study. Ir Vet J 66 (1), 5.

Other sources of information

• Blood D C & Studdert V P(1999) Saunders Compehensive Veterinary Dictionary. 2nd edn. Saunders.
• Campbell J (2017) Contagious Bovine Pleuropnemonia. MSD Veterinary Manual Online.

Organisation(s)

• Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science.