Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Acute bovine pulmonray emphysema and edema-Fog fever

The disease in brief

It is the passage of cattle from a more or less dried-out summer pasture to lush aftergrowth which will cause the appearance of toxic 3-Methyl-indole (or D,L Tryptophan) in the rumen, then in the blood; This product has an edirect toxic effect on cells and cell membranes of bronchioles and alveolar walls leading to rupture of the alveolar-capillary wall and thus the passage of air into the supporting tissues of the lung; the air can reach the pleura, or the thoracic cavity (pneumothorax) or the subcutaneous tissues (subcutaneous emphysema).

Plants such as cabbage, rapeseed and turnips can cause the same toxin to appear.

This is therefore acute respiratory distress occurring most of the time in pastures.

Clinic & diagnosis

The sudden occurrence, in pastures or on cattle receiving grass, following the transition in a few days from a dry pasture to a lush pasture with regrowth.

The clinical signs are:

• severe dyspnea (open mouth, expiratory complaint, orthopnea, etc.),
• frequent subcutaneous emphysema,
• a quick death.

During an episode, some animals may present a subacute to chronic form of the disease.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

- Pulmonary emphysema - acute form - complicated verminous bronchitis RS25
-Anaphylaxis RS27.2
-Poisoning with respiratory manifestation N362
-Pulmonary emphysema-Strong suspicion/VRS RS28.3
-Poisoning by Galega N134

-Poisoning by nitrates, ammonium nitrates or nitrites TX1.3

-Poisoning by organophosphorus or carbamates N382

Confirm a suspicion?

There are no specific tests for regain poisoning-emphysema.

Depending on the context, nasal swab, transtracheal aspiration / bronchoalveolar lavage to look for infectious agents of BPI (but restraint to take these samples is often dangerous for the animal)

Coproscopy (Baerman, Mc Kenna) to look for Dicytocaules.

Prognosis and treatment

Do not rush affected cattle. Remove them from the affected pasture.

Empirical and symptomatic treatment to relieve patients: corticosteroids (Dexamethasone, 1 mg/5 to 10 kg/BW/IM), antihistamine.

Prevention

Be vigilant in dangerous areas with periods of regrowth of new growth in the fall.

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 666