Common symptoms and prevention and treatment methods of parasitic diseases in beef cattle

In the process of beef cattle farming, parasitic diseases are extremely common. According to their parasitic location, they can be divided into internal and external parasitic diseases. They have many types, are widely distributed, and have numerous transmission routes. If not treated in time after infection, they are extremely harmful to beef cattle. Below, Qinnong Network brings an introduction to several common parasites, including their onset symptoms and prevention and treatment methods. Let's learn about them together.

1. Babesiosis

Symptoms: After parasitism, there is an incubation period of about one week. In the early stage of the disease, the body temperature of beef cattle rises significantly, and can reach as high as 12 degrees. The beef cattle show listlessness, reduced appetite, slow rumination, and constipation. As the disease progresses, after two or three days they show rapid and difficult breathing, accelerated heartbeat, gradual emaciation, and are also accompanied by jaundice. In the late stage of the disease, the sick cattle are very weak, unable to stand normally, stop eating, and some develop diarrhea, with the discharged feces being brown in color and having a foul odor.

Prevention and treatment methods: Babesiosis can be treated with 7-10 mg/kg diminazene, prepared as a 7% solution for intramuscular injection, once a day for two or three consecutive days. An intravenous acriflavine solution can also be injected, or traditional Chinese medicine therapy can be used. Young sweet wormwood branches and leaves can be pounded, soaked for half an hour, and then administered together with the residue, 3-5 kg each time, twice a day.

2. Coccidiosis

Symptoms: Coccidiosis is a common parasitic disease in beef cattle. In the early stage of onset, the sick cattle begin to have mild diarrhea, and sometimes the feces are mixed with blood streaks or fibrous mucous membranes, while more severe cases can discharge blood clots with a foul odor. This causes blood-stained feces to adhere to the tail, poor appetite, lethargy, gradual emaciation, anemia, and other symptoms. If the onset is severe, it can cause death in about one week.

Prevention and treatment methods: The prevention and treatment methods for coccidiosis are relatively simple. It can be directly treated and prevented through drugs, generally using diaveridine for feeding. The specific dosage should be determined according to the condition and age in days of the beef cattle, once a day for 2-3 consecutive days.

3. Fascioliasis

Symptoms: Fascioliasis can be divided into acute and chronic forms. It mainly parasitizes the liver of beef cattle. In the acute form, the sick cattle develop high fever during onset, and when the liver area of the beef cattle is pressed, the beef cattle will have obvious pain. During auscultation, an increase in the area of dullness will be found. In addition, the beef cattle will also show symptoms of slow response, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In the chronic form, during onset, appetite begins to decline, anemia occurs, the body gradually becomes emaciated, the mouth becomes pale, and edema under the abdomen occurs. If a pregnant cow is infected with this disease, it will lead to reduced milk production, and miscarriage and stillbirth may also occur.

Prevention and treatment methods: Fascioliasis can be treated orally with 40-50 mg/kg bithionol, or niclofolan can be added to the feed, or low-concentration niclofolan can also be injected intramuscularly.

4. Bovine acariasis

Symptoms: Bovine acariasis is also called mange. It is a common external parasitic disease of beef cattle and is highly contagious. During onset, the skin becomes inflamed and hair falls off, and it is often a mixed infection with sarcoptic mites and psoroptic mites. After infection, beef cattle show obvious itching and will constantly rub, ultimately causing hair loss at the affected areas. In severe cases, it spreads to the whole body, and external injuries also occur due to rubbing, making them susceptible to infection by other pathogens.

Prevention and treatment methods: After onset, sick cattle should be isolated in time and dewormed promptly. Low-concentration chlordimeform aqueous solution or phoxim can be sprayed for treatment. After application, they should be raised separately to avoid licking each other and to prevent poisoning.

The above are the common parasitic symptoms and prevention and treatment methods in beef cattle farming brought to you by Qinnong Network. The content on parasitic diseases in beef cattle is introduced here. For more information, please stay tuned to Qinnong Network.