Clostridial abomasitis causing deaths of calves in south‐west Scotland

in recent weeks. Postmortem examination identified localised lung consolidation and ruminal lesions with the gross appearance of fungal rumenitis, an unusual finding in a calf of this age. Mannheimia haemolytica was recovered from the lung lesion; however, histopathology revealed changes consistent with bronchiolitis rather than pneumonia. Histological changes in the rumen were considered to be consistent with neonatal bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) infection, although immunohistochemistry proved negative. Screening for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus also proved negative, although BVD viral RNA had recently been detected in a bulk milk tank sample from the farm. Blood collected at postmortem examination had a zinc sulphate turbidity (ZST) reading of 4 units (reference range >20 units) and SAC C VS considered that hypogammaglobulinaemia most likely predisposed the calf to infection. Calf management on the farm was improved and the cows were given a BHV-1 booster vaccination, having previously received the primary vaccination course. No further cases were reported. valves and foramen ovale in a four-day-old calf (Fig 1). Due to the chronicity of the heart lesions, SAC C VS considered that the infection most likely began prepartum and would have severely compromised fetal/neonatal circulation. Postmortem examination of a two-day-old calf submitted to Dumfries found consolidation of all the lung tissue and fibrinous pleurisy and pericarditis. A heavy pure growth of Pasteurella multocida was recovered. Again, SAC C VS suspected that infection had commenced in utero because of the extent of the pathology. Neonatal infectious bovine rhinotracheitis was suspected to be the cause of death of a four-day-old Holstein bull calf submitted to Dumfries. The herd had experienced an elevation in calf mortality AFTeR an unsettled start, March proved to be a fine and dry month with recordbreaking high temperatures for many areas in Scotland. The mean temperature was 3.1°C above the 1971 to 2000 average and rainfall was well below the normal levels expected for the time of year. The Scottish Government announced the establishment of a strategic management board following the Kinnaird review into veterinary surveillance. The board will work with the Scottish Government and surveillance providers to ensure that Scotland has a disease surveillance system that is fit for purpose and provides adequate protection. Following the announcement, Richard Lochhead, the rural affairs secretary, said: ‘As the First Minister made clear in Parliament last week, through this board we will consult fully with farmers and vets around Scotland as we consider and take forward the recommendations set out in the Kinnaird report.’