Sudden Death In Calves Research Articles

Participatory survey of risk factors and pathways for Rift Valley fever in pastoral and agropastoral communities of Uganda

To assess pastoralists’ and agropastoralists’ knowledge on Rift Valley fever (RVF), participatory epidemiological studies were conducted with 215 livestock keepers and 27 key informants in Napak, Butebo, Isingiro and Lyantonde districts, Uganda, between January and February 2022. Livestock keepers in all four districts had knowledge of RVF and even had local names or descriptions for it. Pastoralists and agropastoralists possessed valuable knowledge of RVF clinical descriptions and epidemiological risk factors such as the presence of infected mosquitoes, living in flood-prone areas, and excessive rainfall. RVF was ranked among the top ten most important cattle diseases. Pastoralists called RVF Lonyang, symbolizing a disease associated with jaundice, high fever, abortions in pregnant cows, and sudden death in calves. Key informants identified infected domestic animals, the presence of infected mosquitoes, livestock movement and trade, and infected wild animals as risk pathways for the introduction of RVF into an area. Drinking raw blood and milk was perceived as the most likely pathway for human exposure to RVF virus; while the highest consequence was high treatment costs. The results indicate that pastoralists provided key epidemiological information that could be essential for designing an effective national RVF surveillance and early warning system.

Outbreak of sudden death in weaned calves on a New York dairy caused by Strongyloides papillosus

S. papillosus are slender hair-like worms that have a predilection for the duodenum and proximal jejunum of ruminants. The third larval stage of S. papillosus penetrates the skin, often in the coronary band region of the limb, and migrates to the gastrointestinal tract where it matures to the parthenogenetic adult stage. Typically S. papillosus infection of calves in North America is associated with clinical signs of diarrhea, dehydration, anorexia, and weight loss or poor weight gain (Thamsborg et al, 2017).
 Outbreaks of sudden death associated with heavy S. papillosus burden are rare and have only been reported in 2-5 month old calves in Japan (Taira and Ura, 1991). These Japanese outbreaks occurred in the summer, where common conditions included sawdust bedding, high environmental temperatures, and high humidity. Experimental studies revealed the sudden death of calves with heavy worm burdens to be preceded by cardiac arrhythmias for 1-2 days and ventricular arrhythmias leading to cardiac arrest (Tsuji et al, 1992). These researchers hypothesized that S. papillosus may produce a cardiotoxin that leads to cardiac arrest of infected calves.
 S. papillosus has recently been implicated as the novel cause of an outbreak of sudden death in weaned dairy calves on a well-managed farm in New York State. The following report describes this first documented North American outbreak of sudden death in calves caused by S. papillosus.

Thrombotic meningoencephalitis leads to sudden death in calves

Unusual presentation of thrombotic meningoencephalitis in calvesReview of idiopathic necrotising enteritis diagnosesAcute interstitial pneumonia of unknown aetiology in lambsRickets in spring-born lambsGeneralised parasitism in an adult mute swanThese are among...

Sudden death in calves

Sudden death in calves

Sudden death of calves by experimental infection with Strongyloides papillosus. IV. Electrocardiographic and pneumographic observations at critical moments of the disease

Electrocardiographic and pneumographic observations at critical moments were carried out on five calves that died suddenly following experimental infections with Strongyloides papillosus. Time which elapsed during these critical moments was calculated from the time of observation of ventricular flutter (VF) to the appearance of accelerated respiration and cessation of respiration. The beginning of accelerated respiration ranged from −19 to 41 s after VF. Time (minutes:seconds) of cessation of respiration ranged from 2:10 to 3:50 after VF. The results of the experiment suggested sudden cardiac death as the cause of death in calves following infection with Strongyloides papillosus.

Sudden death of calves by experimental infection with Strongyloides papillosus. III. Hematological, biochemical and histological examinations

Nine calves infected percutaneously with graded doses of Strongyloides papillosus (SPL) were examined for hematological, biochemical and histological changes during the infection. Six of the calves infected with the highest larval doses died suddenly and the three calves given lower doses survived. No changes were observed in blood cell counts except for a transient eosinophilia. Parameters of the blood coagulation system and blood gas remained normal. A decrease in blood glucose was observed in four of the calves that died after the prepatent period of the parasite. However, endotoxic shock could be ruled out as a cause of death because of normal platelet counts, no intravascular coagulation and low levels of serum endotoxin. A transient increase of creatine kinase was observed in three of the calves that died; however, myocardial infarction or myocarditis were not observed. No lesions were observed except for minor inflammatory changes in the lungs and slight cellular infiltrations in the heart. In the absence of any consistent hematological, biochemical or histological changes in the calves that died, the present study failed to demonstrate mechanisms underlying sudden death due to SPL infection.

Sudden death of calves by experimental infection with Strongyloides papillosus. II. Clinical observations and analysis of critical moments of the disease recorded on videotape

Four calves experimentally infected with different doses of Strongyloides papillosus were examined for changes of body temperature and other clinical parameters. Also, the critical moments of death, which were recorded on videotape, were analyzed in detail. The first clinical signs included initial accelerated respiration. In general, body temperature was almost normal; however, one calf showed a slight increase after 2 or 3 days of infection, and two calves a gradual increase 7 days after infection. Vocal noises and general spasms were observed 5–14 times during the course of death. Initial vocal noises were heard between 0:50 and 1:30 (minute: second) after the appearance of the initial clinical signs. The final spasm, preceding death, occurred between 3:05 and 3:40 after the appearance of the initial clinical signs.

Sudden death of calves by experimental infection with Strongyloides papaillosus. I. Parasitological observations

Recently, an unknown disease, ‘sudden death’, in calves has been found in Japanese beef production farms. A previous study conducted by Taira and Ura indicated that sudden death can be effected in calves by hyperinfection of Strongyloides papillosus (SPL) and that the disease is possibly caused by SPL infection. In the present work, an experimental infection of SPL in calves was conducted to confirm the field occurence. Fifteen Holstein Friesian calves, ranging from 45.5 to 85.6 kg in body weight, were divided into six groups. Calves of Groups A, B, C, D, E and F were infected once at the rate of 100 000, 320 000, 1 000 000, 3 200 000, 10 000 000 and 32 000 000 SPL larvae per 100 kg of body weight, respectively. Five calves were assigned to Group B, while two calves were assigned to the other groups. After showing no premonitory signs, sudden death of ten calves took place. The survival time of these calves was 27.4 and 16.8 days (Group B), 14.8 and 14.8 days (Group C), 13.3 and 14.2 days (Group D), 11.0 and 11.1 days (Group E) and 11.6 and 10.8 days (Group F). Three calves of Group B did not exhibit sudden death. The results of this study demonstrate that strongyloidiasis was the cause of sudden death.

Sudden cardiac death in calves with experimental heavy infection of Strongyloides papillosus.

For obtaining the preliminary data on the pathogenesis of sudden death in calves naturally heavily infected with Strongyloides papillosus, we monitored 8 Holstein calves experimentally infected with the larvae on electrocardiographic and pneumographic changes. Six calves died suddenly on days 11 to 17 after infection. Sinus tachycardia had been recorded continuously since 1 to 6 days before death. Heart rates increased gradually until death. Since 1 or 2 days before death, various patterns of tachyarrhythmia and bradyarrhythmia had been observed among patterns of sinus tachycardia. Arrhythmias included serious ventricular premature beat, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, complete atrioventricular block and so on. The terminal pattern observed suddenly in all of the cases was ventricular arrhythmias consisting of serial ventricular tachycardia, flutter and fibrillation, which were followed by respiratory arrest. Abnormal pneumograms were not obtained before the terminal ventricular fibrillation. Two of 8 calves recovered from the infection, only one of which showed sinus arrest and the second degree of atrioventricular block transiently. We concluded that calves heavily infected with the larvae died due to sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden death in calves associated with Strongyloides papillosus infection

In recent years, a total of 152 calves have died suddenly on three farms in the southern part of Japan which used sawdust as litter. Calves often died within a few minutes of a violent fall without showing previous clinical signs. On necropsy of these cases, only a slight lesion was observed, although all showed heavy infection with Strongyloides papillosus (SPL). They appeared to have not only a large number of SPL eggs in the faeces, together with many adult SPL worms in the intestine, but also many migratory SPL larvae in tissues such as the lung and muscle. These outbreaks ceased following medication with thiabendazole or ivermectin. It is concluded that ‘sudden death’ is associated with heavy infection with SPL.

Trace Minerals

Gastrointestinal irritation is a common entity in trace mineral toxicosis. To determine the extent of trace mineral involvement in west-central Nebraska beef calves, trace elements analyses were performed on 144 livers from perinatal calves submitted to the Veterinary Science Laboratory, North Platte, Nebraska during 1983 and 1984. All calves originated from herds in west-central Nebraska and ranged in age from eight months of gestation up to six-week-old neonates. Perinates were subjected to complete gross and microscopic, bacteriologic, virologic and toxicologic examinations. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine if trace mineral problems existed in west-central Nebraska, and if any relationship existed with potential disease syndromes. No single element appears responsible for neonatal calf diarrhea, but the variety of fluctuations indicate that trace elements play a role in many enteric syndromes. Supplementation of necessary elements in a proper protein and energy diet has improved production and lessened disease effects by reduced morbidity and mortality. Liver concentrations indicated above normal iron content as the most common trace mineral finding in calves with diarrhea. Hematology values were within normal ranges except for hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct), which were above normal in both groups of CU cows and non CU cows. Other problems attributed to trace minerals include sudden death in calves, white muscle disease, poor nursing and unthriftiness in calves, retained placentas, infertility, achromotrichia and downer cows.

Sudden death in calves at feeding time.

Sudden death in calves at feeding time.

Sudden death in calves associated with acute myocardial degeneration and selenium deficiency.

A syndrome on four dairy farms in which calves up to two months of age died suddenly during a period of excitement usually precipitated by feeding was investigated. The description given by owners was that during, or shortly after milk feeding, the calves grunted, fell and died within one minute. Post mortem examinations revealed patchy myocardial pallor but no other lesions or evidence of infectious disease. Histopathological studies revealed peracute myocardial degeneration. Biochemical examinations have shown a selenium deficiency in in-contact calves and since this was corrected, no further cases have occurred. It is suggested that this is an additional manifestation of the selenium deficiency syndrome and that in certain circumstances, a deficiency of available selenium renders cardiac muscle vulnerable to stresses which induce severe peracute damage and leads to cardiac failure and sudden death.