Etiological and epidemiological study of the bovine paraplegic disease

Abstract

Objective: To investigate etiology and epidemiological scenario of the "bovine paraplegic disease" in bovines served at the Hospital Veterinário "Governador Laudo Natel" (Veterinarian Hospital "Governar Laudo Natel") of "Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias da Universidade do Estadual Paulista" (College of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences of the Paulista State University) (FCAV/UNESP), Campus of Jaboticabal, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. Material and Method: Clinical examination, neurological assessment, collection of blood serum and rumen liquid were carried out for detection of botulinal toxin, cephalorhachidian for the diagnosis of encephalitis, necroscopic test, histopathologic brain test and rabies diagnosis. Handling, type of zootechnical exploitation, nutrition and sanity were characterized, and epidemiological data of bouts were collected. Twenty four (24) farms and twenty-nine (29) animals were included. Results: Epidemiological inquiry came to a total of 7.261 bovines, 143 sick generating a general morbidity rate of 2% (2.6% amongst heifers; 2.2% amongst cows, 1.7% among bullocks and 0.6% among bulls), 40% of animals infected were bullocks, followed by cows (28%) and heifers (27%). Morbidity rate varied among properties (0.14% to 57.5%) with deadliness dose to 100%. It was used regular salt mixed with mineral salt to 57%) of properties and 30% of these to whole commercial mineral salt, amount supplied was considered as being inadequate in 54%. Braquiaria sp predominated in extensive handling without manuring. Only two farmers accused osteophagia, despite the fact that 45% of pastures presented banes. Bovines appeared in extern-abdominal or lateral decubitus, 40% with decrease of tongue tonus and 80% with decrease of tonus and lack of tail movements. Among the diagnosis that could be confirmed, the following frequencies of occurrence were verified: 3.4% de polioencephalomalacea; 3.4% rabies; 10.3% encephalitis; 3.4% of organs failure; 41.4% botulism; 38.1% idiopathic, as animals have not presented signs or alterations that allowed a conclusive diagnosis. Conclusions: Conclusion was that it was a multifactor etiological disease that attacks most beef cattle categories and whose epidemiological scenario needs further investigations to determine more efficient control methods.