Black Quarter in crossbred dairy cattle- A Case Report

Aim: A sporadic incident of Clostridial disease that affected Holstein Friesian (HF) cross bred cows (n=8) at an organized dairy farm was investigated. 
 
Materials and Methods: Detailed clinical investigations and treatment were carried out on all the affected animals. Complete blood count (CBC) and plasma biochemistry were performed on survived animals (n=6). The needle biopsy samples were subjected to culture and identification of the organism by Gram staining. 
 
Results: Two cows were died before instituting the treatment in this clinical incident. The carcasses were seen with typical bloated appearance immediately after death, laying one side with affected leg stuck out. Post-mortem of the carcasses were not been carried out. Pertinent findings of the CBC were a relative neutrophilia whilst a normal total leucocyte count and lowered Hb. Plasma biochemical parameters revealed significant increase in the mean activity of aspartate aminotransferase while alanine aminotransferase levels were within limits. Gram\'s staining of the inoculated culture revealed the presence of small gram-positive rods with sub terminal spores. Clinical treatment of the cases was performed with administration of heavy dose of crystalline penicillin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Clinical recoveries of the cases were good and cessation of spread within the herd confining itself as a sporadic clinical incident. 
Conclusion: Sporadic Clostridiosis (BQ) of eight cross bred dairy cows was dealt in the present case study by including the 
details of its alterations in hematological parameters, Plasma biochemical parameters, observation of characteristic 
clinical signs of the disease and employment of empirical treatment with Penicillin.


Introduction
soil [4].It is an economically important disease among the marginal dairy farmers of India though preventable Clostridium spp are the group of anaerobic by vaccination but occurs sporadically.bacteria that are of considerable medical and veterinary importance.Clostridiosis commonly referred to a Case Description variety of diseases of economic importance caused by A sporadic outbreak of Clostridial disease the bacteria of this genus [1].Clostridium chauvoei, (Black quarter) was investigated in HF cross bred the causative agent of blackleg and malignant edema cows (n=8) maintained at an organized dairy farm unit in cattle, sheep and other ruminants isa gram positive, in the Ludhiana district, Punjab.All the affected were spore forming, rod shaped bacterium [2].The clostridial of aged 3 years and in their first lactation.The unit herd myositis of skeletal muscles is characterized by the was having a populationof seventy five cows at the appearance of crepitating sounds with fluctuating time of this sporadic incident.The farm population swelling causing myonecrosis in of one or more limb has been purchased from the southern states of India quarters, severe toxemia and followed by rapid death as mid to late term pregnant heifers and been [3].The spores of which survive for several years transferred to acclimatize prior to calving.All the without losing their pathogenicity.It is a soil borne animals at the time of purchase were immunized infection, portal of entry is through alimentary tract against Foot and Mouth disease (FMD), Black after ingestion of contaminated feed, fodder and This combine vaccine formulation contains BQ samples were obtained for microbiological identicomponent as formaldehyde inactivated Clostridium fication to identify the suspected cause of organism.chauvoei culture.The cows were housed at tie stall Such samples were taken from the swollen muscles of barns and are intensively managed.The animals were gluteal and lumbar region inoculated into Robertson's fed with concentrate mash, chopped green fodder and cooked meat media.The culture was incubated in the mixed fodder silage.The unit herd had a history of anaerobic chamber for 48 hours.Upon completion of foot and mouth disease affection a month back.Among the tenured time,Gram's staining of the culture was the herd, eight cows were observed with sudden onset performed to identify the microbe involved in this of lameness and swelling in the gluteal and lumbar sporadic clinical incident.muscles.On clinical examination the cows were found

Results and Discussion
depressed, febrile, lame (on one limb) with acute swelling of gluteal muscles (Fig. 1, 2 & 3), anorectic, The acute onset of the clinical signs and loss of with complete rumen stasis, high fever (>104°F) and a two cows on the initial day were predictably pulse rate of above 110/min.Palpation of the swollen suggesting the involvement of any acute/per acute area emitted crackling/crepitating sounds.All the clinical causes/ disease of cattle.animals were clinically affected with in a period of two As mentioned above the characteristic clinical days indicating the sudden onset and loss of two cows signs are consistent with the descriptions by [3,4] for on the first day.Herd check and isolation of the affected the blackleg disease such as occurrence of sudden was performed.The laboratory clinical investigations lameness, reluctance to move, swelling on the one or were performed and intensive clinical therapy was more quarters involving major group of muscles, instituted on the survived cows.The unit herd was anorectic, with complete rumen stasis, high fever observed carefully for any other inclusion of herd (>104°F), pulse rate of above 110/min and culminating mates with similar signs over a period of few weeks.
fatally.Added, upon palpation of the swollen muscles emitted crackling/crepitating sounds.A presumptive

Materials and Methods
clinical diagnosis of Clostridiosis (BQ) was made, From a total of eight affected cows two were died based on the acute onset and characteristic clinical exhibiting clinical signs on the first day of this signs suggesting the etiological involvement of Clostridium sporadic incident before even the treatment instituted.chauvoei in this sporadic Clostridiosis.The two dead Post-mortem of the carcasses were not been carried carcasses were observed with the bloated appearance, out with the fear of spread of bacteria.The clinical with the limbs spread apart and pointing upwards, investigation further continued with collection of due to the rapid accumulation of gas under the blood samples from the six cows.To perform CBC and skin/body cavity.Postmortem examination (PM) of smears blood samples were collected using disodium the carcasses were not been carried with the fear of salt of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as bacterial spread and consequent contamination of the anticoagulant for estimation of hematological parameters environment by formation of spores.It is suggested, [5] and to check for any haemoprotozoan infection.performing PM of carcasses is considered optional or Blood samples were also collected in heparinized vials for should not be performed and the decision weighed on estimation of plasma biochemical parameters of the husbandry/clinical situation in BQ [4].The portal of entry of this organism in cattle is through ingestion time of purchase.The reasons behind this occurrence of bacterial spores originating from contaminated feed of both the diseases could possibly be due to the failure or soil.The ingested spores enter the circulation upon of vaccine that arise out of poor handling and essential anaerobic situations these spores germinate administration of the vaccine by field staff.Microbial and multiply.The bacteria produce toxins, which in identification out of the gram staining of the turn actively circulates in blood and causes damage inoculated culture revealed the presence of small such as severe necrotizing myositis locally in the gram-positive rods with sub terminal spores (Fig. 4 and skeletal muscle and systemic toxemia [2,3].The Fig. 5).This finding had clearly supported the empirical organism invariably causes lesions other than the skeletal decision to employ heavy doses (44,000 U/kg body R muscles were the base of tongue, heart muscle, diaphragm, weight IM) of crystalline penicillin (Crys 40 Sarbahai psoas muscles, on brisket and udder.Among the other Zydus, India) twice daily for seven days.The agent possible conditions that are considered in the list of was also injected locally in to the affected muscles for differentials are as abcess, seroma and hematoma, all enhanced efficacy, added the cows were given are possibly ruled out by the characteristic clinical NSAIDs to aid in pain relief from the lameness and signs.
febrile.Occurrence of BQ is predominant in warmer The results of the complete blood count of the six months [4].Usually the disease culminates fatally cows as follows, Hemoglobin (Hb) 7.40 ± 0.20 gm.% without the possible chances to employ treatment and and Total leucocyte content (TLC) 8783±1356 cells/ see the recovery of the affected.

mm . Results of the differential count of the WBC's
This sporadic Clostridiosis occurred in the were noted asNeutrophil count (N) 56.67 ± 3.25%, winter month such as December equating to an Lymphocytes (L) 42.33±3.7%,and Eosinophil (E) atypical BQ where in the temperature of the location of o 1.00 ± 0.68%.The results indicate presence of a the unite herd are around 10 C and within the herd of relative neutrophilia whilst with normal range of TLC, seventy five it affected only eight cows among which anemia and an absence of any haemoprotozoan disease two were died.It is important to know that the unit herd among the survived cows.Plasma biochemical operates under intensive system with zero grazing and concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) predictably the level of spore's contamination in to was 238 ± 25 U/L and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) their feed/ fodder.levels were found to be 8 ± 3 U/L.The present study Conclusion results are in agreement with the hematological changes that are been observed with two to three days Clostridiosis in dairy cattle can cause considerable post infection experimentally on the hill bulls of two to losses in terms of loss of herd and loss of production.three year olds except the lowered Hb in this study [6].Sporadic Clostridiosis (BQ) of eight cross bred dairy The present case study results recorded a moderate cows was dealt in the present case study by including anemia among the survived and those are in the the details of its alterations in hematological paratreatment could be attributed due to the fact, that the meters, plasma biochemical parameters, observation cows were also suffered with an incident of FMD a of characteristic clinical signs of the disease and month back whilst the unit herd which was duly employment of empirical treatment with Penicillin.immunized against both of these diseases at the Microbial identification should be among the top tool against such important diseases.

Figure- 4
Figure-4 and Figure-5.Gram staining of the culture showing small grampositive rods with sub terminal spores Raksha Triovac vaccine (Indian Immunologicals).analyzer (Johnson and Johnson, USA).Needle biopsy R