Blackleg (disease)
Blackleg, black quarter, quarter evil, or quarter ill (
Susceptibility
Most losses due to blackleg occur when the cattle are between the ages of six months and two years, although it can occur when they are as young as two months. Typically, cattle that have a high feed intake and are well-conditioned tend to be the most susceptible to blackleg. Furthermore, many blackleg cases occur during the hot and humid summer months or after a sudden cold period, but cases can occur at any time during the year.[3]
Causative agent
Blackleg is caused by infection with
C. chauvoei can produce a large amount of gas as a
Clinical presentations
When infection begins, the animal may develop a
Once clinical signs develop, the animal may only live a short while, sometimes as few as 12 hours. Occasionally, cattle succumb to the disease without showing any
Vaccination and prevention
The use of a seven-way clostridial vaccination is the most common and cost effective preventative measure taken against blackleg,[5] but its efficacy is disputed.[2] Burning the upper layer of soil to eradicate left-over spores is the best way to stop the spread of blackleg from diseased cattle. Diseased cattle should be isolated. Treatment is generally unrewarding due to the rapid progression of the disease, but penicillin is the drug of choice for treatment. Treatment is only effective in the early stages and as a control measure.[citation needed]
See also
- Gas gangrene
- Clostridium vaccine
- Blackleg (potatoes)
References
- PMID 11974613.
- ^ PMID 22374118.
- ^ Sarah Robson; J. M. Wilson. "Blackleg in Cattle". 5m Publishing. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^ https://www.zoetis.com.au/_locale-assets/faq/faqs-blackleg.pdf[full citation needed]
- ^ a b http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCCE_LR/files/152026.pdf[full citation needed]
- ^ Clostridial diseases: Blackleg. The Merck Veterinary Manual. Available from http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/50704.htm Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- PMID 18256217.
- ^ Irsik, M.B. Blackleg in cattle. University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Available from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vm120 Archived 2012-02-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-03-22.