Chapter 5 Respiratory disorders

Introduction

Although respiratory diseases have a variety of causes, infectious agents predominate, e.g., infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is caused by a herpesvirus that can affect several body systems.

A second group of important respiratory infections is caused by Pasteurella spp., usually following exposure of young cattle to stress (hence the alternative name for pasteurellosis, “shipping fever”). Both Mannheimia haemolytica serovar 1 and P. multocida are normal inhabitants of the upper respiratory tract and in particular the tonsillar crypts. In order to permit colonization of the lungs, stress or a primary viral infection such as bovine virus diarrhea/mucosal disease (BVD/MD), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or parainfluenza type 3 (PI-3), must compromise the defense mechanisms of the body.

A third respiratory infection, termed endemic or enzootic calf pneumonia, affects groups of young calves and is of major economic importance. Both viruses (e.g., PI-3, BVD, IBR, RSV, adeno- and rhinoviruses) and mycoplasmas may be primary agents, but the etiology of many outbreaks remains uncertain, since bacterial colonization by Pasteurella spp. tends rapidly to supervene. Consequently, the primary virus infection may have been cleared by the time of autopsy. The role of Chlamydia is unclear.

Histophilus somni is of major importance as a cause of suppurative pneumonia (9.29), but, having effects on several organ systems, it is presented as infectious thromboembolic meningoencephalitis in Chapter 9.

Respiratory diseases in young cattle are of great economic importance, since their immunity to many etiological agents is poor and vaccination regimes therefore have severe limitations. Antibiotic therapy can be very costly, and recovering cattle often show poor weight gain. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a problem in many developing countries, such as parts of Africa, India, and China, where eradication through a slaughter policy and vaccination programs presents major organizational problems.

Chapter 5 is divided into infectious (viral, bacterial, and other agents) and noninfectious (allergic, iatrogenic, circulatory, and physiological) etiology. Where appropriate, cross-reference is made to other sections for lesions affecting other systems, e.g., both calf diphtheria and laryngeal abscessation (2.42–2.46) are shown in the neonatal chapter, even though they sometimes occur in older animals.

Infectious disorders

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) (“rednose”)

Etiology and pathogenesis

IBR is caused by bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1). In addition to respiratory disease, other major syndromes due to BHV-1 include abortion and genital tract infections. BHV-1.1 is the respiratory subtype, BHV-1.2 the genital subtype, and BHV-1.3 the encephalitic subtype. The last-named was recently reclassified as BHV-S, a distinct herpesvirus. Pasteurella spp. are common secondary invaders. BHV-1 can cause severe disease in young calves involving pyrexia, ocular and nasal discharge, respiratory distress, and incoordination, leading to convulsions and death.

Clinical features

the common respiratory form of IBR has major clinical signs involving the nostrils (hence the alternative name of “rednose”) and the eyes. Feedlot cattle are at particular risk. Within a group of young cattle, several individuals may be affected simultaneously with epiphora and depression. Severely affected animals, such as the crossbred neonate in 5.1, are dull, somnolent, anorexic with a tucked-up belly, and have a mucopurulent nasal discharge, nasal mucosal congestion and lymphadenopathy, and sometimes a harsh cough. The palpebral conjunctivae may be intensely injected or congested in the acute stage (5.2). Characteristic, small, raised, red plaques are visible near the lateral canthus. Secondary infection may lead to a purulent oculonasal discharge (5.3) as well as a typical purulent IBR conjunctivitis, without blepharospasm.

5.1 Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) in neonate (Hereford cross)

5.2 IBR with severe palpebral congestion

5.3 IBR with purulent oculonasal discharge

Autopsy examination of this animal (5.4) reveals a severe necrotizing and hemorrhagic laryngotracheitis. Another severe case is shown in 5.5. In severe cases the nasal septum (5.6) sloughs its necrotic mucosa. Epistaxis may follow the rupture of mucosal vessels.

5.4 IBR with severe necrotizing hemorrhagic laryngotracheitis

5.5 IBR with severe purulent tracheitis (USA)

5.6 IBR nasal septum with necrotic mucosal slough

Balanoposthitis can occur with bovine herpesvirus 1 infection (p. 182). In 5.7, the separated vulval lips reveal the multiple, discrete pustules of infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPVV). The similarity of the male and female lesions is obvious (compare 10.29).

5.7 Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPVV) form of bovine herpesvirus infection

Differential diagnosis

the characteristic signs, pyrexia, and eye lesions especially make diagnosis simple in uncomplicated cases. It is preferable in a field outbreak to attempt virus isolation for confirmation, or demonstration of a rising antibody titer. Bulk milk antibody tests give a simple and inexpensive indication of herd status.

Management

many cattle only with eye lesions will recover spontaneously, though there is a subsequent risk of poor fertility and an increased abortion rate. Antimicrobial therapy is needed to prevent or treat secondary infections (Pasteurella). Breeding cattle, replacement heifers, and calves may be vaccinated from 2 months old with intramuscular or intranasal administration of modified live vaccines. Cattle entering a feedlot should be immunized 2–3 weeks before admission, but the immune response is poorer.

IBR is being successfully eradicated in some European countries by serological testing and either culling reactors or strict maintenance of a two-herd system.

Pasteurellosis (“shipping fever”, “transit fever”)

Definition

pneumonic pasteurellosis is frequently caused by Mannheimia haemolytica serovar 1 biotype A, sometimes by P. multocida or Histophilus somni, which are all normal inhabitants of the upper respiratory tract. Often pasteurellosis is secondary to respiratory viral infections.

Etiology and pathogenesis

after stress, e.g., transport and/or viral infection, these organisms proliferate rapidly and extend into the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. A. pyogenes is a frequent secondary invader.

Clinical features

severe respiratory distress (5.8), with the head and neck extended, open-mouth breathing, and froth on the lips, is obvious in this calf, which died an hour after the photograph was taken. Severe respiratory signs were evident, with dullness and anorexia, pyrexia, and a moist cough. The cranioventral lung fields reveal wheezing sounds on auscultation. An expiratory grunt is possible. Another tucked-up beef steer (5.9) shows severe dyspnea as open-mouth breathing.

5.8 Pasteurellosis (“shipping fever”) severe respiratory distress in calf (Hereford cross)

5.9 Open-mouth breathing in steer with pasteurellosis

At autopsy examination of another calf (5.10), in addition to froth in the major bronchi, the apical and cardiac lobes are typically dark red, slightly swollen, firm, and contain microabscesses. The diaphragmatic lobes are normal. Such lungs may have fibrin deposits on the pleural surface. Lung changes tend to be symmetrical. In 5.11 the pneumonic areas of the apical and cardiac lobes show scattered, pale yellow abscesses. (See also H. somni, 9.29.)