Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome in cattle

Abstract

Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome is relatively common disease in dairy and beef cattle which has high fatality rate. It is classified as acute, sporadic and necrohemorrhagic enteritis. It is commonly seen in highly productive dairy cattle. The cause of hemorrhagic bowel syndrome is unclear and the pathogenesis is not well-understood. As a primary etiologic agent Clostridium perfringens type A has been strongly proposed and its alpha and beta2 toxin are suggested to have an important role in occurence of the disease. Disease especially occur in lactating dairy cows in the first 3 months of lactation. Ration is seem to be the most important predisposing factor in the development of hemorrhagic bowel syndrome. Severe toxemia (enterotoxemia) and intense hemorrhage in the small intestine cause pathological changes in the intestine. The blood clots in the intestinal lumen, a specific finding of hemorrhagic bowel syndrome can only be demonstrated in 19% of affected cows. Diagnosis is often based on the clinical, ultrasound and necropsy findings and also with differential diagnosis of other haemorrhagic enteritis caused by salmonellosis, Bovine Viral Diarrhea and coccidiosis etc. Prognosis is poor and fatality rate is nearly 100% despite intensive medical and surgical therapy. The use of feed additives, good nutritional management and vaccine administration are recommended for disease control.