Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Caudal vena cava thrombosis

The disease in brief

Caudal vena cava thrombosis (CVT) is the complete or partial obstruction of the caudal vena cava by a white thrombus. The most common cause is a hepatic abscess adjacent to the caudal vena cava that eventually penetrates the vein and forms a white thrombus that obstructs it. From this thrombus, emboli spread, lodge in the pulmonary artery and create embolism, endoarteritis and multiple pulmonary abscesses. After some time, erosion of the pulmonary vessels can create massive intrapulmonary or intrabronchial hemorrhage.

It is mainly found in adults, rarely in young people. The main, but not the only, cause of liver abscesses is ruminal acidosis. 

CCVT can also be caused by emboli from other inflammatory processes: mastitis, metritis, foot infection or in calves umbilical infection.

Clinic & diagnosis

In the early stages, clinical signs are vague (slow loss of condition, moderate or severe impairment of general condition, decreased appetite or anorexia, decreased or absent ruminal contractions). Respiratory and heart rates are increased. Many animals have respiratory signs.

At the stage of purulent metastatic bronchopneumonia, lung sounds are abnormal with tachypnea, cough and serous to purulent discharge.

In advanced stages, the cattle has expiratory dyspnea with open mouth and expiratory complaints.

Finally, during hemorrhage the bovine has bilateral epistaxis or recurrent hemoptysis and can be found dead in a pool of blood.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

– Bronchopneumonia due to false swallowing RS24.2                                                                                                                                      
– Bronchopneumonia-Emphysema virus RS RS26.2                                                                                                                                   
– Chronic healed-consolidated bronchopneumonia – RS24.3

Confirm a suspicion?

Often clinical signs are sufficient. The most effective means of confirmation is liver ultrasound (the vena cava appears oval to round and dilated).

Prognosis and treatment

There is no treatment. Have cattle slaughtered that are in a condition that allows for slaughter.

Prevention

If food cause : check the fiber content of the ration; if necessary:                                                                                                                           
-Reduce the amount of starch in the diet                                                                                                                           
-Reintroduce sufficient long fibers into the ration to avoid chronic rumen acidosis.

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 165