Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Postpartum hemoglobinuria

The disease in brief

This is a hemolytic anemia caused by insufficient intake of phosphorus, copper and selenium, leading to weakening of red blood cells; hemolysis is caused by increased phosphorus requirements at the start of lactation in high producers. This is 2 to 4 weeks after calving, in lactation No. 3 to No. 6; most often isolated cases, sometimes collective, leading to death in 1/2. In addition to the deficiencies reported, the intake of cabbage or cruciferous vegetables, young grass and watering with very cold water.

Clinic & diagnosis

Coffee-colored urine, or pale to pale yellow mucous membranes in the conjunctiva or vagina, in cows in the weeks after calving should raise suspicion of this disease.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

-Babesiosis UR14

-Babesiosis-Mixed infection-Anaplasma marginale/and/or Theileria buffeli/OR M.Wenyonii N9

-Poisoning by cabbage, onions, garlic N24

-Poisoning by copper N23

Confirm a suspicion?

Plasma copper assay on a green-heparinized blood tube shows very low levels <4-15 mg/L.

Prognosis and treatment

- Avoid any effort on the patient

-Transfuse a minimum of 5 liters of blood

-Inject sodium phosphate IV (60g in 300ml of water); give the same dose SC; repeat the SC dose 3 times at 12-hour intervals.

Prevention

-Restore sufficient phosphorus intake in the ration

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 529