Disease of the ruminant urinary system

Question 1

Describe the features of urinalysis

Answer 1

• Colour
• Pus, blood?
• Haemoglobinuria
• USG
• pH
• Protein
• Glucose

Question 2

List the clinical signs of urinary disease

Answer 2

• Abdominal pain
• Dysuria
• Haematuria
• Polyuria
• Anuria
• Oliguria
• Proteinuria

Question 3

Haematuria can be seen in which conditions?

Answer 3

• Pyelonephritis (+ pus)
• Cystitis
• Urolithiasis
• Enzootic haematuria
• Acute bracken poisoning
• Toxic nephrosis (Acorn)
• Glomerulonephritis, renal infarction etc

Question 4

Haemoglobinuria can be seen in which conditions?

Answer 4

• Babesiosis (redwater)
• Post-parturient haemoglobinuria
• Bacilliary haemoglobinuria

Question 5

Define hypospadia

Answer 5

Failure of closure of the male urethra
- urine scale and hair loss seen on the HLs
- fatten to finish or euthanasia?

Question 6

Urine seen from the urachus is known as?

Answer 6

Patent urachus

Question 7

What is the causative agent of pyelonephritis?

Answer 7

Corynebacterium renale

Question 8

List the clinical signs of pyelonephritis

Answer 8

• Chronic weight loss
  +/- pyrexia
• Dysuria
• Blood & pus in urine (pus on vulval hairs)

Question 9

How is pyelonephritis treated?

Answer 9

• Long course of ABs: oxytet or penicillins
• E.coli less sensitive: Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid
  1/3 get better
  1/3 reoccur
  1/3 never get better

Question 10

How does cystitis present differently to pyelonephritis?

Answer 10

Straining is more pronounced
Overall similar signs
Same Tx

Question 11

List the clinical signs of amyloidosis

Answer 11

• Off food & ill
• Profuse diarrhoea (DDX Johne’s disease)
• Generalised subcutaneous Oedema
• Polydipsia/polyuria
• Proteinuria
• Low plasma albumin
• Pale swollen kidneys

Question 12

Describe the features of enzootic haematuria

Answer 12

• Haemangiomata in bladder
• Older cows
• Blood clots in urine
• Tumours in guts: squamous cell carcinoma

Question 12

Describe the acute pathogenesis and CS of bracken poisoning

Answer 12

• Bone marrow toxicity
• Pancytopenia & thrombocytopaenia
• Petechiae in mouth, conjunctiva, vulva etc
• Subcutaneous bruising
• Blood clots: nose, faeces
• Pyrexia & depression
• Diarrhoea (bloody)
• Haematuria
• Death

Question 12

What is enzootic haematuria associated with?

Answer 12

Long term ingestion of bracken

Question 13

What is the cause of toxic nephrosis?

Answer 13

Oak/acorn poisoning
- on pastures 3-5d post autumn storm

Question 14

What are the clinical signs of toxic nephrosis?

Answer 14

• Sudden death
• Anorexia, depression
• Bloat due to ruminal stasis
• Constipation and straining
• Death in 4-7d despite Tx

Question 15

Name the causative agent of bacillary haemoglobinuria

Answer 15

Clostridium haemolyticum

Question 16

Describe the aetiology of post-parturient haemoglobinuria

Answer 16

Low phosphorous diet e.g. Lush spring grass and sugar beet pulp

Question 17

What are the clinical signs of post-parturient haemoglobinuria?

Answer 17

• Sudden onset
• Haemoglobinuria, pallor, jaundice etc
• Collapse, dyspnoea & death
• Guarded prognosis

Question 18

How is post-parturient haemoglobinuria treated?

Answer 18

• Phosphorus
• Blood transfusion

Question 19

Redwater is the term for which condition?

Answer 19

Babesiosis

Question 20

Which spp of babesia affects cattle?

Answer 20

Babesia divergens

Question 21

Name the main host ticks of Babesia

Answer 21

Ixodes ricinus

Question 22

Clinical signs of babesia are seen in which animals in a herd?

Answer 22

Older non-immune

Question 23

List the clinical signs of babesia

Answer 23

• Pyrexia
• Anaemia
• Haemoglobinuria - ‘port red wine’, no clots
• Diarrhoea

Question 24

What are the later clinical signs of Babesia?

Answer 24

Constipated
Temperature falls
Anaemic / jaundice

Question 25

How is babesia diagnosed?

Answer 25

1. Blood smear
   – capillary blood from ear
   - Thin smear – look at edges
   - Parasites in RBC
   - Evidence of anaemia.
2. ELISA – to assess herd exposure.

Question 26

Name the Babesia treatment

Answer 26

Imizol - Imidocarb

Question 27

What is the issue with treating with Imizol?

Answer 27

213 days meat, 21 day milk withhold!
Longest meat withholds of any authorised product – don’t treat unless diagnosed!
And inform DVM – tissue, milk residues.

Question 28

Urolithiasis is seen in which farm animal most commonly?

Answer 28

2-4mo Ram lambs

Question 29

What are the risk factors for urolithiasis?

Answer 29

• Ca:P imbalance in diet
• High concentrate diet
• Water deprivation
• Interactions e.g. forage quality and concentrate intake
• History of diet change in mature animals

Question 30

What are the clinical signs of urolithiasis?

Answer 30

• Restlessness
• Abdo pain and straining
• Dysuria or anuria
• Preputial crystals/sand

Question 31

How do you know if the bladder has ruptured?

Answer 31

Initially brighter!
- High urea & creatinine in plasma/abdominal fluid

Question 32

What are the methods of diagnosis for urolithiasis?

Answer 32

• Abdominal palpation: distended bladder
• Examination of penis
• US
• Abdominocentesis
• Bloods

Question 33

Name the drugs (and their mechanisms) used to treat urolithiasis

Answer 33

Buscopan or Xylazine – relax the smooth muscle and allow the animal to urinate – often not successful – can cause a reactive hypoglycaemia so the animal will urinate more