Prevention and Treatment Methods for Bovine Necrobacillosis, Cattle Farmers Must Master

Necrobacillosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. Clinically, necrosis of tissues such as the skin, subcutaneous tissue and digestive tract mucosa is commonly seen, and metastatic necrotic foci can also form in the internal organs.

I. Symptoms.

The incubation period is 1 to 3 days. The common disease types in cattle are foot rot and diphtheria. The former is mostly seen in adult cattle. At the beginning of the disease there is lameness, and small holes and cavities can be seen at the sole of the hoof, containing necrotic and putrid inflammatory products. These are dirty black, foul-smelling watery material. In addition, abscesses form between the toes and at the coronary band and heel, with purulent discharge and necrosis of the surrounding skin. The inflammation can spread to the synovial bursa, tendons, ligaments and joints; in severe cases the hoof capsule falls off, and the severely affected animal lies down and cannot rise, showing systemic symptoms, with elevated body temperature, poor appetite, increased pulse and respiration, and may even develop pyosepticemia and die. Liver abscess lesions and necrotic metritis can also occur.

Calf diphtheria: at the beginning of the disease the body temperature rises above 41 degrees C, yellow purulent discharge flows from the nostrils, and fibrinous necrotic inflammation occurs throughout the oral mucosa and in the pharynx, with the mucosa rough and covered by grayish-white pseudomembranes that form ulcers after falling off. In calves with pharyngitis, there is mandibular edema causing inability to swallow and severe difficulty breathing; when the lesions spread to the lungs or metastasize to the internal organs, it can lead to death of the affected animal.

II. Prevention and treatment.

1. Treatment.

(1) Foot rot: remove mud and dirt from the hoof, then thoroughly wash with 1% potassium permanganate, apply a mixture of formalin and pine tar at 1:4, and bandage. Keep the affected animal on a dry floor or cement ground. Abscesses should first be incised to drain the pus, then the necrotic tissue removed, washed with hydrogen peroxide, and bandaged with an iodoform-sulfonamide mixture.

(2) Diphtheria: first remove the pseudomembranes, rinse with 1% potassium permanganate and then apply iodine glycerin, several times a day. When systemic symptoms are present, use antibacterial drugs, such as tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides, while supplementing vitamins.

2. Prevention.

Disinfect the cattle shed regularly, keep it clean and dry, remove feces and urine promptly, ensure good drainage in the exercise yard, and detect and treat hoof injuries early.