Head & Integument Diseases

Question 1

You are called in to a farm because a large number of the heifers in the herd look like this. What is your no 1 differential? What will you tell the producer? How will you get rid of this?

Answer 1

dermatophytosis or “ringworm” caused by trychophyton verrucosum

this is zoonotic, so be careful when touching these animals! any species can get it!

these animals spontaneously recover in a few months so we dont necessarily need to do anything at all. Topicals can be used but efficacy is questionable, and systemics such as Na Iodide IV are NOT recommended

Question 2

risk factors for dermatophytosis in cattle?

Answer 2

young animals, indoor housing, post weaning, poor nutrition can make lesions worse

Question 3

your friend calls you because his little baby jersey cow has dry grey to white crusty slightly raised and alopecic lesions. The cow is not itchy though. differential?

Answer 3

dermatophytosis

Question 4

what is a main differential for ringworm and how can you tell which is which?

Answer 4

manges

ringworm is not itchy tho, and mange is VERY itchy

Question 5

how do you diagnose ringworm?

Answer 5

usually not done, but skin scrapings or fungal culture, use KOH wet mount

Question 6

a producer sends you this picture and says DOC WTF IS WRONG WITH BESSIE? What are your differentials? how will you diagnose and treat BESSIE???

Answer 6

papillomatosis (warts) caused by BHV-2

other differentials: early dermatophytosis, cutaneous lymphosarcoma

diagnosis can be made just by looking at her. Can do skin biopsies but this is rarely done.

lesions spontaneously regress and will go away on their own so we dont need to do anything. Could crush or pinch lesions to stimulate immune system or surgically excise lesions

Question 7

risk factors for papillomatosis in cattle?

Answer 7

young cows (BHV-2), old cows more likely BHV -1
particularily young cows that are all in close contact with each other

Question 8

how do warts form?

Answer 8

virus enters basal keratinocytes and causes hyperproliferation of the epidermis and dermis to create a papilloma/fibropapilloma

Question 9

describe the lesion of papillomatosis

Answer 9

grey-white hairless, dry raised pedunculated (ew) masses on any epithelial surface

Question 10

regarding bessie with the warts from a previous question, what is one relatively simple treatment you could offer? there are other cows housed with bessie, some of which are dairy cows. What will you tell the owner?

Answer 10

there is an autogenous vaccine that can cause regression of lesions within a few weeks but this only works for BHV-2

this virus can spread from cow to cow and if there are cows bring milked it could get into the milk! If it gets onto the teats the milking machines could hurt the cow and cause more problems so maybe milk those cows last. But in general, clean ya dang equipment!

Question 11

this is Dorothy. All of Dorothy’s sisters look like this too. differentials for her? how will you diagnose?

Answer 11

infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) caused by moraxella bovis, moraxella bovoculi, or mycoplasma bovoculi.

others: traumatic conjunctivits (would only be 1 or 2 cows, not large group affected), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR, usually only eye edema), or malignant cataral fever (would only be uveitis)

diagnose: rarely done, but can fo fluorescin stain or a culture

Question 12

what time of year is IBK most often seen?

Answer 12

summer time–>thought to have something to do with flies as possible transmission? Flies dont carry the bacteria, but they can cause cows to huddle together more which helps infection spread

Question 13

what one thing is a major risk factor for IBK?

Answer 13

corneal trauma such as UV expsure, dust, irritants, virus

Question 14

clinical signs of IBK?

Answer 14

lacrimation, squinting, photophobia

corneal ulcers and edema, pain, anterior uveitis

vascularization, corneal infiltrates and necrosis, granulation, and possible rupture

Question 15

how are you going to treat Dorothy and her sisters all with IBK?

Answer 15

use systemic antibiotics on the ENTIRE herd such as OXYTETRACYCLINE or TULATHROMYCIN (draxxin). tula lasts longer but is more $$$$. can also use florfenicol

subconjunctival infection (labor costs and not as effective): PENICILLIN

Question 16

dorothy’s owners are worried about her prognosis. what do you tell them? remember, she has IBK

Answer 16

prognosis is good, usually self limiting, may leave a scar

Question 17

a producer named Steve calls you and asks for advice as to how he can prevent IBK in his herd. He’s had many problems with it this summer. What do you tell him?

Answer 17

try to control “bunching” of cattle so it spreads less

can also use long lasting insecticides in Ear tags. put on just before fly season and removed in autumn

tell him vaccines aren’t very effective and to not waste his money on it

Question 18

this is Snowy. top differential for this and risk factors for the disease?

Answer 18

Ocular SCC

genetics, white faces (esp around eye), older cattle, environmental (UV)

Question 19

what are the 4 stages of SCC/cancer eye

Answer 19

plaque–>keratoma–>papilloma–>SCC

Question 20

can you send a cow to market that has SCC?

Answer 20

if spread to regional LNs (usually to parotid first) or it starts to invade peri-ocular tissue, the cow cannot be sent to market and the entire carcass is condemned, but if not, just the head is condemned

Question 21

what are some differential diagnoses for SCC in cows? best way to differentiate these from SCC?

Answer 21

IBK (the eyelids will remain in tact, only consider this if it is a very severe case)

lymphosarcoma from BLV–>will have exophthalmos/protruding eyeball

trauma (only if seen from distance)

Question 22

What is the prognosis for Snowy (SCC)?

Answer 22

in stages 1-3, up to 80% can spontaneously regress

in stage 4, they rarely regress. metastasis more likely if eyelids and/or 3rd eyelid are affected

Question 23

surgical treatment options for SCC?

Answer 23

superficial keratectomy

3rd eyelid excision

Enucleation (if peri-ocular tissues involved)

Question 24

what’s the best way to prevent SCC?

Answer 24

dont breed animals that get it, and select for pigment around the eye, try to detect it early!

Question 25

List some examples of permanent ectoparasites and intermittent ectoparasites

Answer 25

perm: lice, keds, mites –>treat the entire herd
inter: flies, ticks –>hard to control/treat

Question 26

are ticks a problem in Alberta?

Answer 26

can be, but more commonly a problem in BC; D. andersoni can cause paralysis

Question 27

who is most at risk of getting tick paralysis? How do these cows do generally?

Answer 27

heifers (mature cows seem to have zero signs), mortality rate can be quite high

Question 28

how does chorioptic mange differ from sarcoptic mange?

Answer 28

chorioptic mange (chorioptic bovis) only survive a few days off the host, usually lots of mites are found, and are usually found near the tail head and perineum

sarcoptic mange (sarcoptic scabeii) is not a problem in alberta and is reportable, causes extreme pruritus

Question 29

you are called to examine these cows that have crusty red lesions by their tail. Some affected animals also have it on their lower hindlimbs and perineum region. What is your number one differential? How will you treat this animal?

Answer 29

chorioptic mange caused by chorioptes bovis, “tail head mange”

treatment: can do topicals, or systemics (macrocyclic lactones like avermectins usually 2 doses 10-14 days apart)

Question 30

beef cattle producers are likely to encounter which parasite problem for cattle?

Answer 30

pediculosis /lice

Question 31

clinical signs of pediculosis?

Answer 31

alopecia and a dry coat, may find nits or lice on neck or tail head. can damage the hide of the animal and cause some weight loss

Question 32

best ways to control pediculosis in a herd?

Answer 32

examine new animals carefully (biosecurity measures)

treat animals in late fall to “clear” the source before cows start to crowd in the winter time (opportunity for spread)

give insectidies to ALL members of the herd

Question 33

what kind of fly was a problem in Alberta and then was mostly controlled with avermectin use?

Answer 33

Warble flies/hypoderma

Question 34

whats the name of the exotic fly species that is a huge problem in Asia and Africa?

Answer 34

screw worm fly

Question 35

You see a cow that looks like this. These cows are housed outdoors and it is currently summertime

Answer 35

hepatic photosensitization: liver metabolites circulate and get into the skin and are activated by UV exposure and causes damage to the non pigmented areas of the cow

Question 36

which is more itchy, lice or mange?

Answer 36

mange!! with lice you’ll see alopecia but with mange it looks more severe because of how itchy it is