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This article is still under construction. |
| Also known as: | Red Water Clostridium novyi Type D |
Description
A disease of cattle and sheep caused by Clostridium haemolyticum which is a bacteria from the class Clostridia. C. haemolyticum is found in soil, poorly drained/wet pastures and is highly fatal to livestock. The bacteria produces a beta toxin which causes hepatic necrosis and intravascular haemolysis. The disease is often associated with a disease in the liver that causes anaerobic conditions allowing the growth of bacteria and hence toxin production. The damage to the liver is frequently caused by liver fluke.
Signalment
Cattle and sheep of all ages are affected.
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
Clinical Signs
Animals can be found dead often in lateral recumbency, bloat and little signs of struggle with blood in the nostrils, mouth, rectum, vagina. If animals are seen alive, the most obvious sign is a port wine coloured urine that froths on voiding. Animals are often depressed, reluctant to move, pyrexic, jaundice or have pale mucous membranes and sometimes in respiratory distress.
Laboratory Tests
Pathology
Gross
post mortem findings include rapid decomposition of the carcass, organs are also decomposed with subcutaneous hameorrhages, odema and emphysema present. Abdominal and thoracic fluid are blood stained and a large quantity will be in the pericardium. The animal is severely anaemic and may be jaundiced. Red urine in thebladder, and the kidneys will be speckled with haemoglobin. There is usually a single large necrotic focus in the liver that is sometimes partially liquefied in the centre, and an irregular outline with a hyperaemic edge.
Microscopically
- presence of Clostridia post mortem must be interpreted with great caution as they are common post mortem invaders
- FAT for organism
- identification of toxins
- need this for diagnosis
Treatment
- unlikely
- very high doses of penicillin or oxytetracycline
- blood transfusion
Prevention
- vaccination lasts up to 6 months
- liver fluke control
- remove infected carcasses from pasture
NB: Distinguish Red Water from Black Disease! The former will have bleeding out of any orifice while the latter does not