neurological diseases of cattle

Question 1

what are 9 cranial nerve tests we can perform in cattle and what nerves are they testing

Answer 1

1. menace response
   CN 2, CN7
2. PLR
   CN2, CN3
3. eye positioning and eye movement
   CN3, CN4, CN6
4. physiological nystagmus
   CN 3, 4, 6, 7
5. palpebral reflex
   CN5, CN7
6. facial symmetary
   CN7
7. head tilt and nystagmus
   CN7
8. food prehension
   CN12
9. dysphagia snd laryngeal issues
   CN9, CN10

Question 2

What are the three types of ataxia

Answer 2

1. vestibular
   head tilt, hypermetria, hypertonia
2. cerebellar
   no proprioceptive deficits or wekaness
3. proprioceptive
   spinal chord disease, weakness

Question 3

what are 4 spinal reflexes seen and which nerves do they involve

Answer 3

extensor reflex of frontlimb= radial nerve
patellar reflex= femoral nerve
flexor reflex= sciatic nerve
perineal reflex= pudendal and caudal nerve

Question 4

what are signs locating lesion to the brain

Answer 4

stargazing
blindness
abnormal mentation
aimless wandering
abnormal vocalisation

Question 5

what are signs locating lesion to the cerebellum

Answer 5

ataxia without weakness
truncal sway
menace absence
wide stance
intention tremors

Question 6

what age are cattle at risk of meningitis and what are the clinical signs

Answer 6

calves approx 1 week old who haven’t had sufficient colostrum.
signs are wekness, no suck reflex, depression, head pressing.
Give IV bacteriocidal AB’s for 10-14 days alongside Steroid

Question 7

what is the causative agent of brain abscessess

Answer 7

trueperella pyogenes

Question 8

holstein, jersey, guernsey
domed cranium and neurological signs

Answer 8

hydrocephalus
failiure in CSF drainage

Question 9

cattle 6-18 months old
blindness
stargazing
head pressing
strabismus, recumbent

Answer 9

Cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN)
thiamine every 4 hrs for 24 hrs and steroids to treat

Question 10

depression, ataxia, blindness, convulsions, coma, frothing, bloated, abdominal pain

Answer 10

lead poisoning
causes acute encephalopathy
poor prognosis, PTS

Question 11

Obsessive licking
circling
staggering
aggression

signs last regress then recur every 10 hours or so

Answer 11

Nervous ketosis

dextrose, propylene glycol, corticosteroids

Question 12

hyperexcitability, ear twitching, muscle fasciulations, frenzied running and staggering.

cow recently calved in past month(s)

Answer 12

hypomagnaesia
(grass staggers)

can be found in lateral recumbany with violent convuslions

Question 13

grass staggers treatment

Answer 13

400ml calcium iv
50ml MgSO4 IV slow
200ml MgSO4 SC

Question 14

salivation, abdoiminal pain, diarrhoea, blindness, circling, paralysis, dragging of hindfeet

Answer 14

salt toxicosis

rehydrate first then give hypertonic saline

Question 15

disease seen in cow with straw/cereal based diets

Answer 15

hypovitaminosis A

PLR to diagnose

Question 16

3 form of hypovitaminosis A

Answer 16

1: calves born to deficient cows; blindness, deformed foreheads, thickened carpal joints

2: deficient calves; blindness, ataxia, diarrhoea, pneumonia

3: older cattle; blindness, stargazing, nystagmus, ataxia, convulsions, thickening of cornea

Question 17

Severe stargazing
poor balance
tremors
nystagmus

Answer 17

cerebellar hypoplasia

*can be genetic or aqcuired by BVD infection 90-170 days gestation

Question 18

protruding tongue
facial paralysis
ptosis
loss of massater muscle function

Answer 18

listeriosis

Question 19

how does listeriosis reach the brain and what is the treatment

Answer 19

travels to brainstem via trigeminal nerve causing brain micro abscessess

high dose penecillin 7-14 days to treat

Question 20

progressive neuromuscular disease causing hypertonia of extensor muscles of rear limbs

Answer 20

spastic paresis

hyperextended hock
neurectomy of tibial nerve to treat

Question 21

“rocking horse” stance
3rd eyelid prolaps
stiffness
tremors
rumen tympany
recumbancy

Answer 21

tetanus

Question 22

tetanus route of infection, incubation and treatment

Answer 22

spores enter open wound. multiplies and forms neurotoxin. 2-4wks incubation and 4-5 days disease progression

poor prognosis.
antitoxin and vaccination

Question 23

tongue weakness
bloat
respiratory failiure
muscle weakness
ataxia

Answer 23

botulism

linked to poultry carcassess and waste litter

no treatment

Question 24

which nerve is commonly damage following dystocia and what is the effect seen

Answer 24

obturator nerve
failiures to adduct limb

Question 25

what branch of what nerve is commonly damaged following fall or prolonged recumbancy

Answer 25

peroneal branch of the sciatic nerve. Lies over lateral stifle joint
hyperextension of hock and fetlocks with flexed digits

Question 26

what nerve is damaged when a cow is recumbant and struggling to rise

Answer 26

sciatic nerve
prognosis guarded

Question 27

list all the neurological and neuromuscular diseases seen in cattle

Answer 27

meningitis
brain abscess
hydrocephalus
CCN
lead poisoning
nervous ketosis*
hypomagnesia*
salt poisoning
hypovitaminosis A*
listeriosis*
spastic paresis
tetanus
botulism
peripheral nerve damage