Changes

In cases of mild, acute BVD, lesions are rarely seen. When disease is more severe, the lymph nodes may appear swollen, there may be erosions and ulcerations of the gastrointestinal tract tract and serosal surfaces of the viscera may show petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages³⁹.

In cases of mild, acute BVD, lesions are rarely seen. When disease is more severe, the lymph nodes may appear swollen, there may be erosions and ulcerations of the gastrointestinal tract tract and serosal surfaces of the viscera may show petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages³⁹.

The pathology associated with mucosal disease is much more striking. Oral, lingual and buccal erosions are observed, and buccal lesions often coalesce to form larger areas of necrosis and sloughed epithelium. Oesophageal lesions present similarly. The gastrointestinal tract often shows characteristic pathology, but post-mortem examination must be performed soon after death so that these are not masked by autolytic changes. In the rumen, ulceration is rare but congestion and oedema may be seen along the pillars, and papillae can be reduced in size.

mortem examination of suspected cases of mucosal disease.

 

The full extent of oral, lingual and buccal erosions should be

 

observed. A common finding in the buccal mucosa is that the

small erosions have coalesced into larger areas of necrosis and

sloughed epithelium.

lesions, if present, are areas of congestion and oedema along

the ruminal pillars. Ulceration is rare. The large ruminal

papillae can be reduced in size.

The abomasum usually shows several (five to 50) small

The abomasum usually shows several (five to 50) small

discoid erosions, about 5 mm diameter, with surrounding

discoid erosions, about 5 mm diameter, with surrounding