Synonyms

Listeriosis

Name of the disease in English

Listeriosis, Listerial encephalitis

The disease in brief

It is an important infection by the losses caused and the hygienic implications associated with Listeria. It is common in temperate climates, especially when cattle consume silage / wraps. Bacteria living in the environment (soil, fodder, faeces) can concentrate in all moist fodder. Infection of the brain occurs from oral carriage of the bacteria, through micro-lesions via the trigeminal nerve.

Clinic & diagnosis

Nervous signs of central origin and clearly lateralized should raise suspicion of Listeria infection which causes micro-abscesses in the brain. There are different aspects of the disease: 

- a first phase of sometimes short excitement 

-Signs of depression / drowsiness, loss of balance, with head deviation                                                                          

-Facial paralysis affecting the eyelids, ears, lips                                                                                                                                                                                                        

- Paralysis of other cranial nerves, therefore inoperative or hanging jaws, or even dysphagia as the only symptom. 

-Hyperthermia is observable at the beginning but then little or not elevated

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

-Ketosis nerve form NV14                                                                                                                                                          

-Necrosis of the cerebral cortex or polioencephalomalacia NV20                                                                                                             

-Brain abscess NV1                                                                                                                                                                          

-Otite medium NV10.1                                                                                                                                                                            

-Coenurosis in infested area N153                                                                                                                                                             

-Rage NV18.1

Confirm a suspicion?

During the animal's lifetime, confirmation from the clinic is not easy to obtain; at the autopsy, take the brain, half for the histologist (formalin), half in a sterile jar for the bacteriologist.

Prognosis and treatment

Treatment must be early to have a good chance of success; high dose penicillins, tetracyclines. 

Prevention

It is during the production of silage that the source of the infection can be controlled: Decide on the cut at the stage of maturity suitable for rapid acidification, Harvest the fodder on the stalk without contamination by soil,                                               

-Realize a significant settlement on a concrete surface and shelter it from the air                                                                                                                                                                                               

-Add acidifying preservatives if necessary                                                                                                                                          

  The distribution must advance the cutting edge fast enough

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 282