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[[Image:Black leg myositis.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Blackleg myositis (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]
[[Image:Black leg myositis.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Blackleg myositis (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]
{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
| Also known as:
| '''Blackquarter
<br>
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==Description==
==Description==
A bacterial disease affecting cattle and sheep caused by [[Clostridium chauvoei|''Clostridium chauvoei'']].
A bacterial disease affecting cattle and sheep caused by [[Clostridium chauvoei|''Clostridium chauvoei'']]. Latent spores of this organism are deposited in the muscle and liver of ruminants via the circulation resulting in oedematous and crepitant swellings of the muscles.
==Signalment==
==Signalment==
In cattle it is typically beef breeds who are affeceted particularly animals in good health and gaining weight quickly. More frequently occurs in cattle between 6-24 months old but can affect animals of any age. In some animals lesions occur following muscle trauma, which is thought to activate latent spores
In cattle, blackleg infection is endogenous, in contrast to malignant edema ( Malignant Edema). Lesions develop without any history of wounds, although bruising or excessive exercise may precipitate some cases. Commonly, the animals that contract blackleg are of the beef breeds, in excellent health, gaining weight, and usually the best animals of their group. Outbreaks occur in which a few new cases are found each day for several days. Most cases are seen in cattle from 6-24 mo old, but thrifty calves as young as 6 wk and cattle as old as 10-12 yr may be affected. The disease usually occurs in summer and fall and is uncommon during the winter. In sheep, the disease is not restricted to the young, and most cases follow some form of injury such as shearing cuts, docking, crutching, or castration. Endogenous blackleg in sheep is uncommon in the USA; it is much more common in New Zealand where blackleg is seen more frequently in sheep than in cattle.
==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==