An Outbreak of sarcocytosis in dairy cattle

Authors

  • M. J. Carrigan New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research and Veterinary Centre, Forest Road, Orange, New South Wales 2800, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol0no21p213-216

Keywords:

environment, cattle disease, parasite, sporozoan, canine disease, cattle infection, S. cruzi, dog, sarcocystosis

Abstract

Sixteen of 32 Friesian calves, 8 to 10 weeks old, died over 4 weeks. The calves were housed in pens previously used by dogs. Clinical signs included anorexia, pale mucous membranes, rapid weight loss, coughing and palpably enlarged superficial lymph nodes. At necropsy, calves were emaciated and had generalised enlargement of lymph nodes, pale mottling of skeletal muscles, excess peritoneal, thoracic and pericardial fluid and subpleural and subepicardial haemorrhages. Histologically there was a lymphadenitis, myositis, myocarditis, glomerulonephritis, interstitial pneumonia and encephalitis. Schizonts of a sporozoan parasite, presumably Sarcocystis cruzi were found in the endothelial cells of blood vessels in many organs.

Cover image of the 21st Volume of the Bovine Practitioner: a photo of the Louisville skyline at sunset, the lights of the skyscrapers reflecting in the river. The sky is blue and purple and for a just moment the city seems still.

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Published

1986-11-01

How to Cite

Carrigan, M. J. (1986). An Outbreak of sarcocytosis in dairy cattle. The Bovine Practitioner, (21), 213–216. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol0no21p213-216

Issue

No. 21 (1986 November)

Section

Articles