Case report

Diskospondylitis in two first-calf heifers

Abstract

Two first-calf heifer Holstein herd mates were admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital with a one- to two-week history of hind limb weakness. Both heifers had recently freshened (25-30 d) and had their tails docked with castration bands at parturition. The chief presenting clinical signs for both cows were bilateral hind limb weakness, over-flexion of the hocks and occasional over-flexion (dorsal knuckling) of the fetlocks. Other pertinent physical examination findings included weak anal and tail tone. These clinical signs are diagnostic for tibial and sacro-caudal nerve damage. No significant abnormalities were found on preliminary blood examination. Due to the poor prognosis for return to function, both cows were euthanized and a postmortem examination was performed. Postmortem examination revealed chronic suppurative discospondylitis at the sixth lumbar vertebrae and first sacral vertebrae (L6-S1). Escherichia coli was cultured from the L6-S1 disk space of one cow (case 1); no other significant abnormalities were found on postmortem examination. It was uncertain if the infection was secondary to an ascending infection from the tail-docking site, however, there was no evidence of generalized bacteraemia or other sources of infection.