More cases of bovine neonatal pancytopenia in Scotland
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More diagnoses of bovine neonatal pancytopenia
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Rickets and concurrent chronic fasciolosis in a 10-month-old Romney lamb
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Persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 1 in a greyface gimmer
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Elevated zearalenone levels suspected to cause rectal prolapse in three-month-old gilts
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Metabolic bone disease in juvenile herons
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These are among matters discussed in the disease surveillance report for April from SAC Consulting: Veterinary Services (SAC C VS)
AFTER unseasonably high temperatures in March, Scotland's weather reverted to type with plenty of showers throughout April and some snow in the first few days. It was the coldest April since 1998 and one of the wettest on record, with the highest number of days with rain in over 50 years. SAC C VS suspects that mortality in outdoor lambing flocks may have been higher than normal as a result.
The Scudamore expert panel set up by Scottish ministers to consider the future delivery of the food standards regime in Scotland reported that a standalone Scottish Food Standards Agency represented the best outcome for Scotland's long-term interests.
Cattle
Generalised and systemic conditions
Thirty-seven cases of bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP) were diagnosed from 25 farms (13 of which saw the condition for the first time this year) compared with 27 cases from 21 farms in April 2011. Typically affected calves showed pallor, with haemorrhages in the gums and sclera and bleeding from the anus. Clinical signs before death included pyrexia and dyspnoea, although some cases were found dead. At postmortem examination there were haemorrhages within the muscles, on the epicardium, lungs and thymus and large blood clots in the intestines. In some cases there were haemorrhages in the joints and cranium. Histopathology of the sternal bone marrow confirmed the diagnoses.
This summary is produced by SAC C VS and is based on reports from its centres in Edinburgh, Perth, St …
