free carcase collection# service for pme extended.

Issue: 3 (January 2016)
BOVINE NEONATAL PANCYTOPAENIA (BNP) was the cause of
Wales Veterinary
Science Centre
Y Buarth, Aberystwyth,
Ceredigion, SY23 1ND

01970 612374

enquiries@wvsc.wales

http://www.wvsc.wales/
Figure 1
walesvetscicentre
@WVSCAber
FREE CARCASE
COLLECTION#
SERVICE FOR PME
IN WALES HAS BEEN
EXTENDED.
PLEASE READ ON
BELOW & SEE MAP.
All post-mortem examinations
should be arranged, with the
WVSC,
by
the
private
veterinary surgeon to assess
suitability of the PME. Please
phone us on 01970 612374
or follow the link below to
death of a two-week old Friesian calf, one of two
to die in a dairy herd of 200 cows (figs.1-4). It
became pyrexic soon after birth and ear tagging
caused continuous bleeding from the ear
puncture. At post mortem there were petaechial
haemorrhages in the mouth and subcutaneous
tissue and a large blood clot under the serosal
surface of the rumen. Other echymotic
haemorrhages were found in the skeletal
muscles and under the serosa of the intestines.
Histology of the bone
marrow revealed a
trilineage hypoplasia
confirming BNP.
This condition is the
result of ingestion of
Figure 2
colostrum from dams
Figure 3
previously vaccinated with a specific BVDV vaccine.
An immune-mediated suppression of bone marrow precursors occurs leading to
thrombocytopenia,
anaemia
and
leukopenia
predisposing
to
Figure 4
spontaneous
haemorrhage
and
secondary infection.
Although the
number of calves affected by this
disease has declined in recent years,
sporadic cases are still reported. This
calf was out of a nine-year-old cow that
had been confirmed as having the BVD
vaccine implicated in the aetiology of
this disease.
Figure 5
NAVEL INFECTION LEADING TO
POLYARTHRITIS AND MENINGITIS
was diagnosed in a seven day old Limousin calf
that was found recumbent, the day before
carcase collection.
submission. It was found to have swollen knee
joints and was circling when lifted. It was
http://ahvla.defra.gov.
euthanased when it did not respond to
uk/postcode/pme.asp
treatment. At post mortem, there was an
abscess on the abdominal side of the navel (fig.5) and pus extending along the
# Free collection is subject to eligible
umbilical vessels to the bladder. There was a fibrinous exudate on the surface of
postcode. The Government subsidised
the brain, and in most joints, as a result of haematogenous spread of infection
PME and disposal charges will still
from the navel abscess. Culture of lesions revealed growths of E.coli, enterococci
apply.
and Corynebacterium spp.
check
eligibility
for
free
SALMONELLA DUBLIN was isolated from
foetal stomach content of a seven-month old aborted
bovine fetus. There had been four abortions over a
period of one week in a 150 cow dairy herd. Affected
cows were also reported to be pyrexic. Advice was
given on control including zoonotic aspects.
OVINE WHITE LIVER DISEASE was
diagnosed in a nine-month old lamb. It was in a
group of 30 lambs that were ill thriven, and it was
one of nine that had been attacked by a dog or
dogs. Because of this, it had been euthanased and
presented for post mortem. It was found to be in
poor body condition with trauma to the tissues of the
neck, and it had a very pale liver. It had a high
trichostrongyle worm egg count and a liver vitamin
B12 level of < 0.07 µg/g WM indicating severe
deficiency.
DELAYED SWAYBACK - Hind limb weakness
PARASITOLOGY
We are developing our services and can now offer
limited parasitology – please phone before
submitting samples.
Current available tests:
TEST / METHOD
SAMPLE TYPE /
QUANTITY
Worm egg & coccidial
oocyst count
Minimum of 3g of faeces
Fluke egg examination
(sedimentation method)
Lungworm in faeces
(Baermann technique)
Composite worm egg
count – monitoring
Composite fluke egg
examination – herd screen
Minimum of 40g of faeces
(Sensitivity is reduced if
smaller quantities are used
Up to 50g of faeces
(Sensitivity is reduced if
smaller quantities used)
10 x 3g (minimum)
individual faecal samples
from a single group
10 x 5g (minimum)
individual faecal samples
from a single group
including knuckling had affected six of a group of 500
Ectoparasites in wool/hair
Skin, hair/wool
eight-month old welsh mountain lambs. An affected
scrapings
lamb was euthanased and submitted for post-mortem
examination. The owner reported that this lamb had appeared slow two weeks prior to submission and clinical signs
had the developed over this period. Gross findings in the carcase were unremarkable and histopathological examination
of spinal cord revealed changes consistent with delayed swayback.
Delayed swayback typically affects lambs between 2 to 4 months of age, and
so this was a late onset case. As the copper deficiency was historic, it was
advised that an evaluation of copper status was indicated and suitable
supplementation discussed for future years.
ERYSIPELSAS infection causing polyarthritis was diagnosed in two, ten-
Figure 6 – Stifle joints from the same lamb
infected with E.rhusiopathiae.
month old lamb lambs (fig.6). Over 70 lambs had been affected by chronic
lameness since early autumn. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated in
culture from the joints of one of the lambs and serology from both lambs
revealed very high antibody titres to E.rhusiopathiae.
ASPERGILLOSIS caused the death of four ducks in a backyard flock of 16 fowl. Three were presented for post
mortem, all had died without prior clinical signs. At post mortem, the lungs were dark purple and there was a thick yellow
fibrinous exudate on the peritoneal lining and pericardium. A moderate growth of Aspergillus spp. was cultured from lung
tissue of the three ducks. It transpired that a supply of mouldy hay had
W.V.S.C. Opening Hours
been used for bedding in the weeks leading up to these deaths.
CPD: A free afternoon CPD session titled “Post-mortem Examination,
Days
Times
Surveillance & Diagnostic Tools” was recently held, aimed at new
graduates. Please let us know if you, or your colleagues, would be
interested in attending something similar in the future.
Monday –
Thursday
8:30am 5:00pm
8:30am 4:30pm
Fri
Compiled by: Jon. King MRCVS
(Other contributing vets: Roger Daniel, Ian Davies, Kate Hovers)
walesvetscicentre
@WVSCAber
Y BUARTH, ABERYSTWYTH, SY23 1ND
TELEPHONE: 01970612374
enquiries@wvsc.wales
http://www.wvsc.wales/
MAP OF POSTCODES FOR CARCASE COLLECTION SERVICE IN WALES
walesvetscicentre
@WVSCAber
Y BUARTH, ABERYSTWYTH, SY23 1ND
TELEPHONE: 01970612374
enquiries@wvsc.wales
http://www.wvsc.wales/
POSTCODE AREAS FOR CARCASE COLLECTION SERVICE IN WALES
OUTCODES
Carcase collection
delivery to
Aberystwyth
Area 2 Carcase
collection delivery
to Shrewsbury
Area 3 Carcase
collection delivery
to Carmarthen
LL51, LL52, LL53, LL54, LL58, LL59, LL60,
LL61, LL62, LL63, LL64, LL65, LL66, LL67,
LL68, LL69, LL70, LL71, LL72, LL73, LL74,
LL75, LL76, LL77, LL78
LL23, LL24, LL25, LL26, LL27, LL28, LL29,
LL30, LL31, LL32, LL33, LL34, LL41, LL43,
LL44, LL45, LL46, LL47, LL48, LL49, LL55,
LL56, LL57, LL22
LD1, LD2,LD3,LD4,LD5,LD7,LD8, LL37, LL38,
LL39, LL40, LL42, SY17, SY16, LL21
CH4, CH5,CH6, CH7, CH8, LL11, LL12, LL15,
LL16, LL17, LL18, LL19, LL20,
SY10, SY21, SPLIT determined on a case by case basis
HR3 and HR5 on picker to Shrewsbury
CF10, CF11, CF14, CF15, CF23, CF24, CF3,
CF37, CF38, CF39, CF40, CF41, CF42, CF43,
CF44, CF45, CF46, CF47, CF48, CF5, CF61,
CF62, CF63, CF64, CF71, CF72, CF81, CF82,
CF83, NP10, NP11, NP12, NP13, NP15, NP18,
NP19, NP20, NP22, NP23, NP24, NP26, NP4,
NP44, NP8, NP25, NP7, NP16
Post codes in
Shrewsbury
catchment area
SY9, SY22, LL13, LL14, SY11, SY12, SY15
Post codes in
Aberystwyth
catchment area
LL35, LL36, SY 18, SY19, SY20, SY23, SY24,
SY25, SA 45, SA46, SA47, LL35, LL36,LD6
walesvetscicentre
@WVSCAber
Y BUARTH, ABERYSTWYTH, SY23 1ND
TELEPHONE: 01970612374
enquiries@wvsc.wales
http://www.wvsc.wales/