Abstract

Clinical and Pathological Studies of Blackleg Disease in Cattle, Cholistan Desert, Punjab, Pakistan

Authors: Ali Jawad, Maham Gul, Afaf Jauhar and Muhammad Wasiq

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.71081/cvj/2024.021

Abstract
Blackleg disease is the primary cause of high mortality in dairy animals including cattle. It is caused by Clostridium chauvoei, a gram-positive anaerobic bacterium. This disease is prevalent in dairy cows. Blackleg disease in cattle in this study was diagnosed by necropsy examination, histopathology, hematological, and serum biochemical tests. Morbid cattle clinically showed signs of subcutaneous gaseous swelling, lameness, and fever. Significantly decreased red blood cell count, packed cell volume and increased total and differential leukocyte count was recorded. The results on serum biochemistry showed escalated levels of serum creatinine phosphokinase, creatine kinase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and urea. Gas bubbles and straw-colored fluid were observed under skin and at areas of inflammation during necropsy. The muscles were severely congested, dark black, and had a putrid smell in infected animals. Noticeably enlarged and swollen liver with round edges, congested, hyperemic, and enlarged spleen, severe pulmonary lesions, and myocarditis with petechial hemorrhages were observed in cattle. Microscopic analyses showed that there was edema, significant inflammation, and myofibril disruption in different sections of muscles obtained from hind limbs, front and muscles of back shoulder, and mandibular regions. Histological evaluation of the lungs, heart, kidneys, spleen, liver, and other organs revealed disruption of the normal tissue structure along with severe inflammatory alterations with neutrophilic infiltration. This study shows that necropsy and microscopic lesions are useful and valuable tools for the diagnosis of blackleg infection in cattle.

Keywords: Blackleg disease, Clostridium chauvoei.