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An outbreak of bovine thromboembolic meningoencephalitis in Yucatan, Mexico
Author(s) -
OrtegaPacheco Antonio,
GutierrezBlanco Eduardo,
BlancoMolina Jose M.,
GuillermoCordero Jose L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
veterinary record case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2052-6121
DOI - 10.1136/vetreccr-2013-000034
Subject(s) - medicine , leukocytosis , neutrophilia , monocytosis , meningoencephalitis , histopathology , ataxia , malacia , pathology , outbreak , meninges , lymphocytosis , meningitis , gliosis , surgery , bone marrow , airway , psychiatry
Seventeen Beef‐Master cattle (three calves, one male and thirteen cows) died within a period of two months with neurological signs. A neurological syndrome was evident in the patients characterised by ataxia, incoordination, dysmetria, hyperacusia, muscle tremors and ptyalism. A dysfunction of trigeminal, facial and vestibulocochlear cranial nerves was also observed. At necropsy a septic process was evident. Histopathology of internal organs showed necrosis as a consequence of septicaemia. Complete blood cell count showed leukocytosis due to neutrophilia, lymphocytosis and monocytosis. Macroscopically the brain showed severe congestion and the histology showed a thromboembolic meningoencephalitis and thickening of the meninges. To stop the outbreak, oxytetracycline was provided to the entire herd for 10 days and all susceptible animals vaccinated against Histophilus somni . No other case was presented until a month later when two cows and one calf died with the same symptomatology. Immunosuppression was associated with the development of the disease.