CATTLE

A case of recurrent
cutaneous actinobacillosis
Actinobacillus lignieresii is well recognised as a cause of ‘wooden tongue’ in cattle, but
the disease can occasionally also affect other soft tissues of the head and neck and deep
organs where it is often confused with neoplasms or exuberant granulation tissue.
This report describes the clinical and pathological findings in a case of cutaneous
actinobacillosis, which was considered atypical because of the extent and distribution
of the lesions and the recurrence of the problem. It discusses the cost effectiveness of
using biopsy and histopathology as diagnostic tools and highlights the requirement for
prolonged antimicrobial therapy.  10.12968/live.2014.19.4.225

Isabelle Truyers DVM DipECBHM MRCVS Farm Animal Practice, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,
Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG
Kathryn Ellis BVMS CertCHP PhD DipECBHM MRCVS Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and
Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden, G61 1QH
Robert Norquay BVM&S MRCVS Northvet Veterinary Group, Junction Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1AG

Key words: actinobacillosis | cutaneous | wooden tongue | recurrent

A
ctinobacillus species are Gram-negative bacteria re- (Anderson et al, 1990). Occasionally infection disseminates to
sponsible for quite distinct disease conditions of the lymphatics and may sometimes spread to deep organs (Ry-
animals (Rycroft and Garside, 2000). Actinobacillus croft and Garside, 2000). Atypical lesions have been observed in
lignieresii, first described by Lignieres and Spitz in the lips, gums, nares, palate, larynx, trachea, oesophagus, rumen,
1902, appears to be a commensal of the oral cavity and pharynx reticulum, liver, lungs, udder, bladder, kidneys, genital organs
of ruminants, particularly cattle and sheep, and is well recog- and skin (Sanders and Ristic, 1956; Till and Palmer, 1960; He-
nised as the cause of ‘wooden tongue’ in cattle; an insidiously- beler et al, 1961; Swarbrick, 1967; Campbell et al, 1975; Fubini
developing granulomatous infection (Rebhun et al, 1988; Rycroft and Campbell, 1983; Rebhun et al, 1988; Anderson et al, 1990;
and Garside, 2000; Milne et al, 2001). It usually causes disease Milne et al, 2001) and are often confused with neoplasms or
after direct inoculation into the submucosal tissue following exuberant granulation tissue (Rebhun et al, 1988; Milne et al,
abrasion by rough feed or sharp objects; the infection is there- 2001). Clinical progression of the granulomatous lesions is often
fore sporadic (Fubini and Campbell, 1983; Rycroft and Garside, slow and chronic. Lesions begin with an initial local leukocytosis
2000). However, several reports challenge this assumption. A. followed by formation of a granulomatous reaction with epithe-
lignieresii has been reported in herd outbreaks in England (He- lioid cells and some giant cells in the centre. At the centre of
beler et al, 1961), the United States (Campbell et al, 1975), Ja- the lesion, purulent foci develop which are bounded by concen-
pan (Nakazawa et al, 1977) and Ireland (Cahalan, 2012), and tric layers of connective tissue which becomes a thick, fibrous
de Kruif et al (1992) reported on a post-operative infection with wall surrounding the lesion. Where microcolonies of the bacteria
A. lignieresii in 22 cows, spread by a Belgian veterinary surgeon develop in the centre of the structure, they are surrounded by
during caesarean section. This indicates that where a common eosinophilic club-shaped bodies, often referred to as ‘rosettes’
© 2014 MA Healthcare Ltd

precipitating cause exists, such as rough feedstuffs, a number of (Plummer, 1946; Anderson et al, 1990; Rycroft and Garside,
animals can be affected. 2000; Milne et al, 2001).
The most common clinical sign of the disease is wooden Definitive diagnosis of actinobacillosis depends on recovery
tongue, in which a firm swelling develops in the tongue, but the of the organism from the lesion; however, culture is difficult,
disease may also affect other soft tissues of the head and neck therefore existence of club-like rosettes and central masses of

Livestock | July/August 2014, Volume 19 No 4 225

Cattle

Gram-negative bacterial rods is compatible with actinobacillosis Differential diagnosis

(Anderson et al, 1990) and in cases of wooden tongue clinical The three major differential diagnoses considered in this case
signs such as salivation, dysphagia and a thickened, hardened were neoplasia of the skin and/or lymph node (dermatofibroma,
tongue on palpation are often highly suggestive. lymphosarcoma), exuberant granulation tissue and/or infectious
In the past, treatment consisted of iodide therapy, orally and/ organisms such as A. lignieresii, Actinomyces bovis, Staphylococ-
or intravenously, usually until signs of ‘iodism’ were noted (Wil- cus spp. and Nocardia (Rebhun et al, 1988; Milne et al, 2001).
liams Smyth, 1951). The sensitivity of A. lignieresii to sodium
iodide and organic iodide is well recognised clinically, but the Surgery and diagnostic testing
mechanism of action of these drugs remains unknown (Rebhun The cow was restrained in a crush with side-opening half panels
et al, 1988). Complete surgical removal or injection of iodine into and sedated with 0.05 mg/kg of xylazine (Rompun 2% solution,
the central mass of the diseased tissue, or both, has proved valu- Bayer PLC). The area surrounding the lobules was infiltrated a
able in arresting the proliferating process as well as iodide thera- local anaesthetic (Adrenacaine, Norbrook) and surgically pre-
py, orally and/or intravenously (Sanders and Ristic, 1956). Iodine pared. The lobules were surgically removed using a combination
and iodine inorganic compounds are pharmacologically active of sharp and blunt dissection. The process was complicated by
substances which are allowed to be used in all food producing the fact that these lobules were invading the subcutaneous tissue
animals without the requirement for an established maximum and that they were strongly vascularised. It was difficult to decide
residue limit (MRL) (Official Journal of the European Union, if all the pathological tissue had been removed. Ligatures were
2009). Till and Palmer (1960) tested the in-vitro sensitivity of A. placed on the bleeding vessels and the layer of subcutaneous tis-
lignieresii to different antibiotics and found the organism to be sues was closed with a continuous suture using chromic catgut,
sensitive to penicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and tetra- respectively metric 3 and metric 6. The wound was closed with a
cycline. Although a combination of penicillin and streptomycin layer of single interrupted sutures using metric 6 synthetic non-
is described in some reports (Nakazawa et al, 1977; Milne et al, absorbable polyamide (Supramid, S. Jackson Inc, USA). Two
2001), it has been shown that cutaneous actinobacillosis can be weeks post surgery the wound healing was considered to be fair
treated by using streptomycin and/or dihydrostreptomycin in the and with only a small lesion ventral to the wound left to heal,
absence of penicillin, due to the susceptibility of A. lignieresii, the sutures were removed. Six full-thickness biopsies of the large
a Gram-negative organism, to these antibiotics (Hebeler et al, granulomatous masses (in a 10% formalin solution) were sent to
1961; Milne et al, 2001). the University of Glasgow, Division of Pathological Sciences for
The following report describes the clinical findings and treat- histopathological examination.
ment of a case of recurrent cutaneous actinobacillosis.
Medical treatment
Case history While awaiting the histopathology results, post-operative antibi-
An 11-year-old, home-bred crossbreed cow from a spring calv- otic treatment was initiated with 10 mg/kg procaine penicillin
ing, 36-cow suckler herd was presented with a unilateral (right) BP and 12.5 mg/kg dihydrostreptomycin sulphate BP (Pen and
pre-scapular cutaneous mass consisting of three lobules near the Strep, Norbrook), by daily intramuscular injection for 4 days.
pre-scapular lymph node. The mass had been present for over 2
months but had recently started to grow excessively. At the time Histopathology results
of presentation the animal had a 2-month-old calf at foot. For Examination of six histological sections revealed extensive pyo-
most of the housing period the animal was kept in a small group granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis in all sections, with
of six cows in a straw-bedded court with a wooden feed fence. formation of multifocal granulomas containing ‘club colonies’,
Other housing systems on the farm used for suckler cows includ- central masses of basophilic bacteria surrounded by club-like
ed slatted pens and a tie-stall. The animal was fed an ad-libitum rosettes. These structures were surrounded by dense infiltrates
grass silage diet, with additional barley grains. No other animals of neutrophils and macrophages, including sheets of epithelioid
appeared to be affected. macrophages. Numerous lymphocytes and plasma cells infil-
trated the tissue. There was extensive fibroplasia, fibrovascular
Clinical examination hyperplasia and fibrosis (Figure 1).
Subjectively the cow was bright and in good body condition Gram staining confirmed that the bacteria in the club colo-
(body condition score 3/5) (DEFRA, 2001). There were three nies in the cutaneous pyogranulomatous lesions from this cow
large, granulomatous cutaneous masses (each with a diameter were Gram-negative. In conclusion, these findings were consist-
varying from 10 to 15 cm) visible in the right pre-scapular area ent with cutaneous actinobacillosis due to A. lignieresii.
with friable surfaces which bled easily. On objective clinical ex- Occasionally these lesions can be caused by other bacteria,
amination, palpation of the thickened skin surrounding the mass- such as Actinomyces, Nocardia and Staphylococcus spp., but these
© 2014 MA Healthcare Ltd

es elicited a pain response. The right pre-scapular lymph node agents are Gram-positive and therefore were excluded in this case.
was enlarged. The rectal temperature was within normal range
at 38.8°C (102°F), as were the heart rate (66 beats/min) and Treatment and case progression
respiration rate (24 breaths/min). There were no other clinical Treatment was continued with daily administration of 10 mg/kg
abnormalities detected. procaine penicillin BP and 12.5 mg/kg dihydrostreptomycin sul-

226 Livestock | July/August 2014, Volume 19 No 4

 CATTLE

phate BP (Pen and Strep, Norbrook) by intramuscular injection

Bovine: Cutaneous actinobacillosis Pyogranulomatous
for an additional period of 6 days. The wound healed successfully
and there appeared to be no sign of recurrence of the problem inflammation
within 6 months post treatment. However, 1 year post treatment
the cow, which had remained healthy and in good physical con-
dition, was presented again because lesions had recurred in the
same position, though to a lesser extent (Figure 2). It was de-
cided to take a second biopsy under sedation (0.05 mg/kg xyla-
zine, Rompun 2% solution, Bayer PLC). Histological assessment
Actinobacillus
and Gram staining confirmed the recurrence of cutaneous ac- lignieresii
tinobacillosis. Based on these findings it was decided to reinstall
treatment with 10 mg/kg procaine penicillin BP and 12.5 mg/kg Club colony
dihydrostreptomycin sulphate BP (Pen and Strep, Norbrook) for ‘Splendore-Hoeppli’
a period of 2 weeks. When re-assessed 14 days later the lesions
were greatly reduced in size and it was decided to cease therapy,
the lesions eventually diappeared altogether. The cow was then Figure 1. Section from biopsy showing colonies of numerous Ac-
turned out to pasture where she reared her calf. At the end of the tinobacillus bacteria in club colonies (H&E stain; x 200).
grazing season the calf was weaned-off and the cow was slaugh-
tered for human consumption.

Costs
The costs for diagnosis and treatment of this case of recurrent
cutaneous actinobacillosis added up to £331.18, which included
visit and surgical fees, cost of drugs for sedation, local anaesthe-
sia and antimicrobial therapy and histopathology.

Discussion
Granulomas due to A. lignieresii require differentiation from
granulation tissue, neoplasms, parasitic granulomas, and infec-
tious granulomas caused by other organisms, such as Actinomy-
ces bovis, Staphylococcus spp. and Nocardia (Rebhun et al, 1988).
This is important because compared with some other causes of
proliferative granulomatous swellings, this disease carries a fair
prognosis for resolution (Rebhun et al, 1988; Milne et al, 2001).
Lesions caused by A. lignieresii other than wooden tongue seem
to be unfamiliar to many veterinary practitioners, and are often
mistaken for neoplasia (Milne et al, 2001). Exuberant granula-
tion tissue can occur in cattle, though it is less common than in
horses (Rebhun et al, 1988). Figure 2. Recurrence of cutaneous A. lignieresii in the pre-scapular
Biopsy is the procedure of choice to differentiate these prob- area 1 year post surgical removal of the initial mass and antimicro-
lems, and although it might appear expensive, it does enable a bial treatment.
definitive diagnosis to be made and would therefore allow either
effective treatment or help reduce financial losses. Culture of a
tissue sample is also indicated (Rebhun et al, 1988), although longed course (2 to 4 weeks) of procaine penicillin and dihydros-
isolation of A. lignieresii from chronic lesions has been reported treptomycin, or streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin carries
to be difficult (Anderson et al, 1990). Actinomyces bovis tends a good prognosis. In none of the three cases described in that
to cause infections (osteomyelitis) in the bones of the skull of report was surgery required.
cattle, but occasionally appears as granulomatous soft tissue in- In the current case, the duration of the initial 10 day antimi-
fections as well (Rebhun et al, 1988). Since A. bovis is much crobial treatment was, in retrospect, likely not long enough. A
more resistant to therapy than A. lignieresii, differentiation based broad spectrum combination product of penicillin and dihydros-
on histopathology (marked morphological difference of rosettes), treptomycin was used since initial post-operative treatment was
© 2014 MA Healthcare Ltd

Gram staining (A. bovis is Gram-positive, A. lignieresii Gram- already installed with this product. The use of procaine penicillin
negative), or culture is important (Plummer, 1946; Rebhun et BP and dihydrostreptomycin sulphate BP (Pen and Strep, Nor-
al, 1988). brook) for the extended duration in this case (10 days and 14
Based on the case series published by Milne et al (2001) it days) is not included in current data sheet recommendations.
appears that treatment of cutaneous actinobacillosis with a pro- Therefore, the minimum standard withdrawal period of 28 days

Livestock | July/August 2014, Volume 19 No 4 227

Cattle

The recurrence of the problem is possibly due to the fact

KEY POINTS that initial antimicrobial treatment was only carried out for 10
zz Actinobacillus lignieresii, a commensal of the oral cavity and pharynx in days. Swarbrick (1967) describes a case of cutaneous actino-
cattle, is mainly seen as a sporadic infection of the tongue after entering bacillosis with involvement of the subcutaneous tissues that
the tissue following abrasion by rough feed or sharp objects; however relapsed twice.
several outbreaks have been reported.
zz Other than causing ‘wooden tongue’, A. lignieresii can occasionally Conclusion
also affect other soft tissues of the head and neck and deep organs, In this case of an 11-year-old cow presented with granulomatous
resulting in atypical lesions often confused with neoplasms. cutaneous masses, biopsies taken for histopathological examination
zz Granulomatous skin lesions due to A. lignieresii should be differentiated proved both useful and cost effective in making the definitive diag-
from neoplasms, parasitic granulomas, exuberant granulation tissue nosis. This report also highlights the requirement for prolonged an-
and/or infectious granulomas caused by other organisms. timicrobial therapy in a case of cutaneous actinobacillosis. LS
zz Definitive diagnosis of actinobacillosis should depend on the recovery
of the organism from the lesion; however this has been reported to be Conflict of interest: none.
difficult. In this case biopsy proved to be a practical, more direct and
cost-effective method of diagnosis. References
Anderson KL, Fairley RA, Duncan D (1990) Suspected actinobacillosis mani-
zz Surgical debulking or removal, iodide therapy and/or prolonged (2 to 4
fested by facial enlargement in a heifer. J Am Vet Med Assoc 197: 1359–60
weeks) antimicrobial administration have all been reported successful Cahalan SD, Sheridan L, Akers CR, Lorenz I, Cassidy J (2012) Atypical cutane-
ous actinobacillosis in young beef cattle. Vet Rec 171: 375
treatments of cutaneous actinobacillosis.
Campbell SG, Whitlock RH, Timoney JF, Underwood AM (1975) An Unusual
Epizootic of Actinobacillosis in Dairy Heifers. J Am Vet Med Assoc 166: 604–6
de Kruif A, Mijten P, Haesebrouck F, Hoorens J, Devriese L (1992) Actinobacil-
losis in bovine caesarian sections. Vet Rec 131: 414–15
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) (2001) Condition
after the last treatment before slaughter for human consumption Scoring of Beef Suckler Cows and Heifers https://www.gov.uk/government/
uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69370/pb6491-cattle-scor-
should be applied. ing-020130.pdf (accessed March 2014)
In the case of this suckler cow, where financial losses due to Fubini SL, Campbell SG (1983) External lumps on Sheep and Goats. Vet Clin
North Am Large Anim Pract 5(3): 457–76
milk withdrawal are not an area for consideration, the prolonged Hebeler HF, Linton AH, Osborne AD (1961) Atypical Actinobacillosis in a Dairy
use of Pen and Strep turned out to be a very cost-effective treat- Herd. Vet Rec 73: 517–21
Milne MH, Barrett DC, Mellor DJ, O’Neill R, Fitzpatrick JL (2001) Clinical
ment. Though total costs for diagnosis and treatment add up to recognition and treatment of bovine cutaneous actinobacillosis. Vet Rec 148:
£331.18, the cow successfully reared two more calves since she 273–4
Nakazawa M, Azuma R, Yamashita T, Iwao T, Uchimura M (1977) Collective
was first presented with the problem and was later culled (Scot- Outbreaks of Bovine Actinobacillosis. Japanese Journal of Veterinary Science 39:
tish auction prices for cull cows currently vary around 120 pence/ 549–57
Plummer PJG (1946) Actinomycosis: Histological Differentiation of Actinomyco-
kg live weight (http://www.qmscotland.co.uk)), thereby easily sis and Actinobacillosis. Canadian Journal of Comparative Medicine 10: 331–7
justifying the costs incurred. Rebhun WC, King JM, Hillman RB (1988) Atypical Actinobacillosis Granulomas
in Cattle. Cornell Veterinarian 78: 125–30
This case of actinobacillosis was atypical because of the ex- Rycroft AN, Garside LH (2000) Actinobacillus Species and their Role in Animal
tent and distribution of the lesions and because of the recurrence Disease. Vet J 159: 18–36
Sanders DA, Ristic M (1956) Actinobacillosis of Cattle. J Am Vet Med Assoc 129:
of the problem 1 year post treatment. There was no lingual in- 478–81
volvement. It is possible that the wooden feeding fence caused Swarbrick O (1967) Atypical Actinobacillosis in Three Cows. Br Vet J 123: 70–5
Official Journal of the European Union (2009) Commission Regulation (EU) No
injury to the skin, thus allowing entry of A. lignieresii to this atyp- 37/2010 of December 2009 on pharmacologically active substances and their
ical side. The short extra-corporal survival time of A. lignieresii classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin
http://ec.europa.eu/health/files/eudralex/vol-5/reg_2010_37/reg_2010_37_
found by Till and Palmer (1960) suggests the bovine mouth is en.pdf (accessed March 2014)
most likely to be the natural habitat so it is assumed that in this Till DH, Palmer FP (1960) A review of Actinobacillosis with a Study of the Casual
Organism. Vet Rec 72: 527–34
case secretions from the mouth contacting the pre-scapular skin Williams Smith H (1951) A laboratory Consideration of the Treatment of Actino-
lesions resulted in inoculation of the organism into the wound. bacillus lignieresi Infection. Vet Rec 63: 674–5

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will be discussed in this article along
with
tached to each cow’s left hindleg and
heavier and grow faster and activity in man, which des-
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for those involved in health ity is that they are not simply the result
of short-term mistakes
of a catalogue of missed
sensitivity of dairy cows to pain, knowledge
the obligation toè It is the ONE dedicated of journal
was monitored exclusively
thatfrom tion. Ten items of the stockperson
0 h (end of surgery) to 68 h Signature(s)_________________________
analysed.
________________ Date___________
QBAforwere some types of account
has many similarities to metabolic syndrome
predispose to coronary heart ‘footiness’ or low-grade multi-limb lameness.
ignates a set of risk factors which
not accept Direct Debit instructions
more efficiently. This is encouraging or oversights; they are the culmination
provide analgesia, and whether
livestock practitioners The may
and Building Societies handling styles that emerged
after the needs ofpost
Banks
looks partum. Time spent lying, number of steps
importance of output and the respondent thought wereONLINE
planning because it underlines the 2. termed; calm/patient, dominating/ag- disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Assessmentofobesityfordiagnosisand
10.12968/live.2014.19.3.142
lesion size and occur- horses.
opportunities to plan ahead. pigs and bouts were calculated for or gressive,
Bog asphodel toxicity in sheep for cattle, sheep, and counts of lying
Dan Gammon MA VetMB MRCVS
Synlait Farms Ltd, 1028 Heslerton therefore the need to control and minimise
disease risks. How- the view of nutrition who care
rence of defensive behaviour positiveonline at
interactions EMS is reported to be most common
in horses from 5–8 years
Road Rakaia RD13, New Zealand For advisers, the implications are that by the cow were the following periods: 0–8 h, 8–16 h, Subscribe securely and insecure/ monitoringofEMS
of nutrition as a key factor in with the more ‘cata- important. Respondents’ estimation practitioners completely 16–24 h, nervous. The 31 items of the calf ns.com/livestock 2010) but in reality is seen
subsequent monitoring of
ever, it also points to the importance must be extended beyond losses associated è It keeps livestock of the pain 24–48 h and 48–68 h. Cows receiving www.magsubscriptio QBA that of age (Johnson, 2002; Frank et al, Accurate assessment of obesity and
and cattle Key words: hypocalcaemia | DCAB the difference between these two cohorts
of sheep farmers. In a such as pregnancy toxae- level associated with sole ulcer treatmentclinical developments in their field. meloxi- were widely in horses of all ages. Certain
breeds such as the Shet- and particularly the
up-to-date with was cam spent significantly more time lying in the or 3. also analysed revealed two dimensions

practical bi-monthly journal

| physiology | milk fever | prevention
webinar on ewe nutrition, strophic’ results of poor feeding practice linked to frequency of therapeutic CREDITlabelled
calf behaviour CARD / DEBIT CARD of
Welsh, Arabian, Morgan, weight loss are essential for the diagnosis,
recent Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS) mia, acidosis and prolapse. The underlying
longer-term influence claw trim- 0–8 h and 8–16 andh periods following surgery n Please pos/neg mood and Express land, New Forest, Exmoor, Dartmoor, effective management, of EMS. Most
owners have a distorted
& goats authoritative, accessible
It is anestimated by, Mastercard, Visa or American
Walking horse, Paso Fino,
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if profitability in commercial ming, age, farmers’è income, knowl-
bi-monthly than cows(six times placebojournal.
a year)
receiving (+27.4 and +26.4
high/lowcharge arousal. Based on the expected
£_______________________________
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rela- Quarterhorse, Saddlebred, Tennessee
to be predisposed to the perception of normal body condition
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body condition on sheep flocks is to be positively influenced.
analgesia, and estimated min, respectively) and had more bouts between stockperson behaviour and Spanish Mustang and donkeys appear horse is overweight and to assess its
body condi-
alcium homeostasis is critical for healthy Table 1. The effect of pre-mating that applies equally well sensitivity of dairy cows to pain. The
now has added an additional equine section of lying My calfcard number is:
behaviour a structural model was devel- condition, likely as a result of the conservation
of ‘thrifty genes’ accept that their
provide owners with the appro-
and lambing is a very useful maxim used in business It latter fac- to
Feeding the ewe è
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function in the first 24 h. No differences were tion. It is therefore essential
of mammalian life. During the peri-parturient
calcium homeostasis and the management
strategies for preven- pasture intakes (dry matter/ewe/day) to the nutrition of ewes: ‘Planning is
bringing the future into the tor was associated with profession, frequency
which makes the journal of numbermore
the even compelling. seen in oped and tested using SEM. The analysis
re- that enable these breeds to thrive on
grazing of limited nutritional
priate tools to evaluate their horse’s
condition objectively and to
availability of steps taken. These findings are
Diagnosing urolithiasis in small
riod the modern dairy cow has to cope
shift in demand for calcium, a four-fold
pe-
with a large
tion of disease associated with failure
of these mechanisms. performance at two levels of pasture present so that you can do something
about it NOW.’
facets: long-term nu-
therapeutic claw trimming,
recognition, opinionè onIt the
capability of pain
provides invaluable
ananalge- interpreted
resourceby theand platform
authors as suggesting that 3calves
vealed that stockpersons whostrip)
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patiently and pet and calmly talk
nnn handle their value. There is no convincing evidence
Excessive dietary intake, often combined
of a gender predilection.
with little exercise, in monitor its weight.
ruminant colic cases dietary requirement of calcium is common-place
increase in Physiology of calcium homeostasis Conditionscore Ewe nutrition consists of two interactive benefits of
for CPDtoassessment.
sia, knowledge of the obligation
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section is them during
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domesticated horses results in the
deposition of fat as normal
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provide an- have animals with high-
trition and current diet. an indicator of increased comfort;
nn nn Bodyconditionscore(BCS)
for a high yield- Calcium homeostasis (maintenance 5weeks At Pastureintakes moreover gain are lost. Adipos-
by body condition (BC) of algesia, and self estimation of the ability for livestock Expiry date:
ing Holstein from -3 days to 6 days
post partum (from 25 g/day of serum calcium at 2.2–
mating (gdm/ewe/day) rate*
z Long-term nutrition — indicated è It provides a professional to rec- voicethat
they suggest improved welfare can be ob-
er levels
Valid from ofdate:
positive mood, as characterised by annual cycles of weight loss and weight The body condition score system was
initially intended to score
2.5 mmol/l) can be viewed as a balance premating ognise pain. It is concluded high hypertriglyceridaemia, reduced
to >100 g/day). This places a large cycle (Russell, 1984). sometimes scores on to assess their readi-
Î
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homeostatic mechanisms to avoid clinical maintenance, growth, pregnancy and
between demand (for
lactation), excretion, di- >3 H 3.18 722 1.40 1.62 the ewe at key times in the production
In the wider context knowledge of personnelpractitioners,
that improvingsupporting
involved in therapeuticcause.
the tained and with NSAID treatment. There is need
content.
QBA
Stockpersons with a nervous
items like friendly and
_____________ Date___________
ity results in hyperleptinaemia,
plasma adiponectin concentrations
and insulin dysregulation. flesh coverage in agricultural animals and
et al (1983) subsequently
This is largely an effect of energy supply.
Signed_________________________
or sub-clinical hypoc- etary intake and absorption efficiency. 728 1.10 1.50
claw trimming is crucialchallenging their for more research here, but these data show dling han-
the sensitivity of periph- ness for slaughter. Although Henneke
alcaemia. Both clinical and sub-clinical Short-term variations in L 2.96 of feeding not linked to if management of pain style, or who were dominating and Adiposity is negatively correlated with in horses on a 1 (very poor)
hypocalcaemia have been of ‘long term’ there are also effects that administration of meloxicam or 4. CHEQUE ag- adapted the system to measure fatness
EHM — what every equine serum calcium can be balanced by 1.53 1.70 results in by which metabolic

for the farm and equine vet

shown to be costly (Esslemont and increased or decreased levels 746 that will have associated with treatment of sole ulcer gressive, on the other made payable The precise pathways between BCS
Kossaibati, 2002) and carry 2.5/2.75 H 3.05 BC per se. For example ‘in utero’ development and the tangible behavioural changes and should n I enclose
hand, had calves with
a cheque for £________________________ eral tissues to insulin. to 9 (extremely fat) scale (Figure 2),
the correlation
of storage in the main reservoir for make remain to be elucidated
practitioner needs to know
1.57 welfare of lame cows are to be optimised. more of BCS estimating total
an increased risk of disease (Curtis negative mood. and in findings changes develop and lead to laminitis
Subscribe online at
body calcium (bone). Excre- 1.43 pounds Sterling.
© 2014 MA Healthcare Ltd

to MA Healthcare LtdThese
© 2014 MA Healthcare Ltd

et al, 1983; Oetzel, 1988) tion levels and absorption efficiency L 2.78 829 lasting effects on ewe lambs. us all consider the provision of analgesia
when
are im-
tone or the pro-inflam- and fat is non linear. The predictive ability
and premature culling (Hayes et al,
2012). As such there is a de- are also altered to ensure 1.47 1.61
z Current diet — the ability of
what’s on offer now to provide undertaking C-sections.
portant as they show the direct link
between FREEFONE service, please but may relate to changes in blood vessel body fat is more accurate in non-obese
animals (Dugdale et al,
1101
Analgesia following C-section you want to make use of our special
Practical management of equine
tight regulation of serum calcium. H 2.86 Note: Ifbehaviour
© 2014 MA Healthcare Ltd

<2.25 the syndrome.

www.magsubscriptions.com/livestock
mand from dairy farmers to understand The primary mechanism for the balance of substrates human to Fridays.
matory state that develop as part of in EMS cases with moderate
the patho-physiology and achieving this regulation, in the face 778 0.93 1.33 the nutrients required. This includes phone 0800 137201 between
and calf behaviour 9.30am and once Mondays
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an opportunity for cattle practitioners of falling blood calcium L 2.46 undegradable protein There are few if any reports published again confirm the significance of good stock- with a BCS of 7 or more
metabolic syndrome to influence management levels, is release of parathyroid hormone maintenance; L = low pasture availability,
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