s Synonyms

 

No known synonym

 

Name of the disease in English

 

Hot abscess under the skin

 

The disease in brief

 

Abscesses are very common in cattle, resulting from trauma at contact points or from poorly performed injections or various stings. Among the bacteria involved are Actinomyces pyogenes, Streptococcus sp. Infection of the subcutaneous tissue or muscle causes an influx of inflammatory cells that will circumscribe the infected area, phagocytize bacteria and inflammatory residues and produce the "hot" abscess; when the inflammation recedes, we move on to the stage of the cold abscess with a shell containing pus.

 

It is important to distinguish abscesses from hematomas, serum collections, or early infections, because each lesion has a specific treatment.

 

Clinic & diagnosis

 

We suspect a hot abscess when we note both:

 

-A flat, firm swollen area, or a swollen area with a ball shape.

 

-A warmth or pain on palpation of the diseased area.

 

One may also note fever and decreased appetite.

 

Typical sign of the disease

 

No description

 

Pictures

 

See below

 

Diagnostic formulas

 

No description

 

Differential diagnosis

 

-Hematoma under the skin CH3

 

-Hernia of the flank Or Eventration-PG30.2

 

-Umbilical hernia CH9

 

-N20 inguinal hernia

 

Confirm a suspicion?

 

The lesion observed can be specified with an ultrasound. Confirmation is done by puncture on a well chosen area; prepare the area to puncture as for a surgical intervention. A 16g needle will be able to immediately confirm the presence of pus (or blood). Aspiration by a syringe can be useful in addition.

 

Prognosis and treatment

 

The treatment is adapted according to the result of the puncture:

If the puncture only brought back a small amount of serosity and blood, but no pus, we can assume that the abscess is forming: Antibiotic treatment can overcome the infection; we then use a broad-spectrum antibiotic that includes Actinomyces in its spectrum:

 

When the puncture brings back pus, the presence of a constituted abscess is confirmed; the treatment consists of:

 

- Debride the abscess widely in the ventral area to facilitate its emptying; the size of the opening should be several centimeters (5cm) so that debris and clots can drain easily.

 

- With large abscesses, provide daily care for 5-7 days: Rinse the emptied cavity with a PVP-iodine or hydrogen peroxide solution.

 

- Antibiotic coverage is not always useful; reserve it for complex abscesses and when the risk of recurrence is present.

 

Prevention

 

-Monitor livestock buildings to detect and remove the causes of contusion.

 

-An annual disinfection of the premises, followed by a crawl space is indicated if the cases multiply.

 

References

 

- Rebhun's disease of dairy cattle; Various DJs, Peek SF 3^rd edition by Ed. Saunders Elsevier