Content
Smallpox in cattle is a serious cause for concern, since in the absence of timely treatment, this disease can cause colossal damage to the farm. The virus has its own characteristics and signs that make it possible to recognize it in cows. Therefore, it is important that the farmer is able to identify a sick animal and promptly isolate it from the rest of the livestock. In addition, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the basic methods of treating and preventing smallpox that should be used to maintain the health of cows.
Causes
Smallpox is a viral disease caused by the DNA virus Orthopoxvirus and its strains. The main carriers are infected animals. Transmission of infection occurs through unprotected skin and mucous discharge from the nose and mouth. Most often, smallpox progresses during the period when cows are kept in stalls, resulting in a lack of vitamins, which leads to a weakening of the immune system. Rodents and blood-sucking insects can also be carriers of the dangerous virus.
The main reasons for the massive spread of infection:
- non-compliance with the temperature of keeping cattle;
- increased humidity and dirt in the barn;
- insufficient ventilation in the room;
- lack of walking;
- unbalanced diet.
All these factors contribute to a decrease in immunity, so the cow’s body cannot resist the smallpox virus. As a result, it begins to progress and in a matter of days can infect the entire livestock.
Symptoms of smallpox in cattle
The incubation period for chickenpox can last from three to nine days, from the moment the virus enters the body. After this time, the first signs begin to appear in the infected cow.
During the first 24 hours, redness or roseola forms on the skin in the udder area, as well as on the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. Over the next 2-3 days, a papule or compacted nodule appears on the inflamed area. After 3-4 days, the formation turns into a vesicle filled with liquid, and on the 10-12th day a purulent vesicle appears. Starting from the 14th day, the formation gradually fades away. In its place, a scab appears, covered with a dark crust.
Other common signs of infection:
- decreased appetite;
- aggressive behavior;
- dejected state;
- fever;
- elevated temperature;
- reduction in milk yield;
- inflamed lymph nodes;
- swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, as well as the skin on the nipples and udder;
- rash.
As you can see in the photo, when smallpox develops on a cow’s udder, the skin rashes eventually merge into a single whole and become covered with a dark crust, which cracks and bleeds with any movement. This causes excruciating pain to the animal. Therefore, the cow tries to take a comfortable position or spread her legs wide to reduce discomfort. Against this background, she may not allow the milkmaid to approach her, since any touch to the sore nipples or udder causes acute pain.
Course of the disease
It is extremely difficult to detect smallpox in a cow at the initial stage of development, since during the entire incubation period the disease develops asymptomatically.
When an infection enters the body, the virus concentrates in epithelial tissues. It penetrates directly into cells, disrupting their structure and structure.
There are three forms of cowpox:
- acute – duration three weeks, accompanied by high temperature, fever, formation of scabs;
- subacute – duration 20-25 days, occurs without characteristic skin rashes;
- chronic – is extremely rare, characterized by clear signs of exacerbation with the appearance of a rash and periods of remission.
With a mild form of smallpox, a sick cow recovers after 20 days, with a severe stage of the disease - after two months.
This disease is most easily tolerated by males.
Smallpox is most dangerous for young calves, since their immune system has not yet fully developed and is not able to resist the further spread of infection.In the absence of adequate treatment, the smallpox pathogen penetrates the respiratory and digestive organs and thereby provokes the development of bronchopneumonia and gastroenteritis.
Severe smallpox in the absence of adequate therapy can lead to the death of the entire livestock. Therefore, when the first alarming symptoms appear, you should immediately call a veterinarian, since any delay only worsens the situation.
Diagnosis of disease in cattle
Identifying chickenpox in a cow when a rash appears on the udder and other areas of the skin, as well as mucous membranes, is not particularly difficult. But in order to exclude the possibility of other diseases that are accompanied by similar rashes, additional clinical tests should be performed. To test for smallpox, blood from a sick cow, fluid from blisters, and swabs from the surface of exposed inflamed areas are used.
The resulting biomaterial is tested in a veterinary laboratory, which helps to identify the presence of the smallpox virus. Experts also determine the degree of its danger and the stage of development of the infection.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the sick cow should be immediately separated from the rest of the herd. It is also necessary to follow all the veterinarian’s instructions, which will avoid an epidemic on the farm.
Treatment of smallpox in a cow on the udder
There is no specific treatment for cattle pox. All methods are aimed at reducing unpleasant symptoms and maintaining the general condition of the cow.
Main methods of treatment:
- Use of antibiotics.These types of drugs are not able to have an inhibitory effect on the smallpox virus. They are used only in case of development of secondary bacterial infections against the background of weakened immunity.
- Means for maintaining the general condition of a sick cow. To help the body fight the smallpox virus, it is recommended to use drugs such as lactic acid and Vetom 11. The course of administration and dosage is prescribed by the veterinarian depending on the severity of the disease.
- Disinfectants. To treat ulcers on the udder of a cow, use a tincture of potassium iodide, a solution of chloramine with a 3% concentration of the active substance and borax. Regular use helps stop the rash from spreading further during smallpox.
- Preparations for wound healing. In this case, it is recommended to apply Vaseline, ichthyol or zinc ointment to the inflamed areas. This helps dry the skin in affected areas and accelerates regenerative processes.
- Local agents for softening scabs. At the stage of formation of a dark crust on the skin, any movement leads to the appearance of cracks and their bleeding. Therefore, in order to soften these areas, various ointments with vegetable oils and glycerin are prescribed.
When smallpox affects the nasopharyngeal mucosa, regular rinsing with a solution of boric acid (3%) is used.
If a rash appears on the mucous membrane of the cow's eye, the inflamed cornea is additionally prescribed to be washed with a furatsilin solution.During the acute phase, such treatment should be carried out at least twice a day.
To speed up the recovery of sick cows, you need to provide them with adequate care. To do this, the temperature in the isolator should be within 20-25 degrees and good ventilation. It is also recommended to constantly change the bedding and wash equipment.
In the first days, the sick individual should be fed with liquid mixtures, and after 3-4 days, wet mash can be used. In addition, the animal should not lack water. The more a cow drinks, the faster the body can cope with the smallpox virus.
Dairy cows need to express milk constantly to prevent stagnation and the development of mastitis. If this cannot be done manually, then a catheter must be used. The resulting milk can be fed to calves, but only after double pasteurization.
Treatment of smallpox with folk remedies
Folk remedies can also speed up recovery. They must be used in combination with the main therapy, since on their own they are not able to resist the smallpox virus.
For treatment, it is recommended to add fresh blackberry and elderberry leaves, as well as the cloves and top part of garlic, to the feed of a sick cow.
To treat the udder and affected nipples, you need to prepare a healing herbal decoction.
The principle of its preparation:
- Grind equal amounts of sorrel and elderberry leaves.
- Pour the resulting mass with water, the volume of which should be twice as large as the greens.
- Boil the product for 30 minutes. over low heat.
- Leave for two hours, peel.
Wash the cow's wounds with the resulting decoction twice daily.
Epidemic Prevention Methods
If characteristic signs of smallpox appear on the farm, a number of measures must be taken to prevent further spread of the virus. First of all, it is necessary to examine all animals and separate sick and suspicious individuals.
After this, disinfect all premises, equipment and equipment to destroy the smallpox virus with a mixture of the following components:
- 4% caustic soda solution;
- 2% formaldehyde;
- 20% calcium oxide.
In addition, it is necessary to pour chlorine into the slurry and burn the litter. Also, various disinfection barriers should be installed throughout the entire farm in order to protect not only the rest of the cow population, but also other animals from smallpox.
All equipment and equipment after milking must be treated with sodium hypochlorite solution in a ratio of 1:100.
If symptoms of smallpox are confirmed, it is necessary to report to the veterinary supervision for special measures to prevent the epidemic. The quarantine is lifted only three weeks after the infected cow has recovered.
Is smallpox transmitted from a cow's udder to humans?
The smallpox virus can be transmitted to humans during expressing milk through contact with inflamed areas. The disease does not pose a mortal danger to health, but an infected person can become a carrier of the smallpox virus, which threatens mass spread.
When working with sick animals, it is necessary to use special clothing that cannot be taken outside the barn. Before and after milking, you need to wash your hands with soap, and also treat the udder and teats with disinfectants.
Prognosis and prevention
The prognosis for chickenpox in cows is favorable if timely and adequate treatment is carried out. The mild form of the disease goes away within two weeks, and the severe form within two months.
To avoid the development of smallpox, experts recommend prompt vaccination of cows. The virus strain is injected once into the ear. It is especially important to vaccinate in potentially unsafe areas to prevent mass infection.
Outbreaks of the disease are most often recorded in the autumn, during the transition from grazing to stall housing. Since smallpox is considered a disease of the udder in cows, to prevent infection, veterinarians recommend, starting in August, lubricating the skin of the hands with special antiseptic creams, such as “Burenka”, “Lyubava”, “Zorka”.
Other preventive measures:
- When purchasing new cows, it is necessary to first isolate them from the herd for four weeks, and also check to see if there are any outbreaks of smallpox in the places where they were previously located.
- Stalls and equipment must be disinfected every week.
- Cowsheds should be kept clean as this is the best prevention.
- The premises should be dry, spacious and warm, which eliminates the appearance of mold and reduces the likelihood of developing the smallpox virus.
- Change the litter as it gets dirty, and clean out the manure weekly, followed by treating the floors with a disinfectant solution.
- When moving to wintering, whitewash the walls with slaked lime.
- Do not allow water to stagnate in drinking bowls, as it is a favorable environment for the proliferation of the smallpox virus.
- At least once a year, disinfect against rodents and harmful insects.
Smallpox affects cows with weakened immune systems. Therefore, it is necessary to provide animals with a balanced diet to prevent vitamin deficiency.
The daily diet should include:
- hay – 2 kg;
- spring straw or sunflower cake – 2.7 kg;
- silage – 15 kg;
- pine flour – 1 kg;
- table salt – 70 g.
It is also important to regularly inspect the udder and nipples, nasal mucosa and mouth for the appearance of a rash. If characteristic symptoms of smallpox are detected, begin treatment immediately. You need to act in consultation with your veterinarian, since ignoring the general rules can significantly complicate the situation.
Conclusion
Experienced farmers know that smallpox in cattle can cause massive destruction of animals, so trying to cure the disease with folk remedies is useless. Only complex therapy can have an inhibitory effect on the smallpox virus.
Otherwise, the disease will be severe, which will significantly increase the cost of treatment and maintenance of sick cows.
