Causes of calf mortality in Kabete area of Kenya

A total of 345 calf carcases of mainly dairy breeds from the farms around Kabete area were examined at the post-mortem facility in the Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nairobi, over a 10-year period (1980-1989). About 46,8% of the total deaths took place within the first 2 months, 31,8% of them in the first month and 13,3% in the first 2 weeks. In 23 cases (6,7%) no specific cause of death was determined. The major causes of death were diseases of the alimentary tract (31,3%) - mainly gastroenteritis (76/108) due to colibacillosis, salmonellosis, coccidiosis and helminthiasis, and bloat (20/108). The other major causes of death were diseases of the respiratory tract (16,8 %) mainly pneumonia (42/58), and tick-borne diseases (13,3%) - mainly east coast fever (ECF) (37/46). The alimentary and respiratory diseases were most common in the 1-30 d age group. The other causes of death occurred in the following frequencies: musculoskeletal system (7,0%), septicaemia (6,7%), malnutrition (6,1 %), cardiovascular system (3,7%), nervous system (3,2%), liver (2,6%) and poisoning (2,6%).The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.mn201

Suspected sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in a zero-grazed dairy herd in Kenya

An outbreak of a disease characterised by very high mortality occurred in a group of nine calves (1-4 months old) in a zero-grazing unit 2-3 weeks after an introduction of an apparently healthy alien sheep into the calf pen. Five of the six calves which contracted the disease died. The main clinical signs observed were marked depression, persistently high body temperature (40.5-41.5degreesC), copious mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharges, dyspnoea, bilateral keratoconjunctivitis with corneal opacity, enlargement of the superficial lymph nodes and marked erythema and/or superficial erosions of the buccal mucosae. At necropsy there were lesions in the upper respiratory and digestive tracts, lymph nodes, brain, eyes, liver, kidneys and the urinary bladder. The lesions were histopathologically characterized by fibrinoid vasculitis which was accompanied by lymphocytic infiltration in the parenchyma of the affected tissues. Based on the evidence of contact between the calves and the recently introduced foreign sheep, the characteristic clinical signs and histopathological findings, a diagnosis of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever was made.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat v.9 was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.mn201

Teat lesions and their relationship to intramammary infections on small-scale dairy farms in Kiambu district in Kenya : research communication

Mammary gland quarters of 139 lactating dairy cows from small-scale dairy herds were examined visually and by palpation for teat lesions and by California mastitis test (CMT) and bacterial culture for subclinical mastitis. Teat lesions were observed in 97 teats. These included teat chaps (39.2 %), teat papillomas (23.7 %), teat erosions (22.7 %), teat fistulae (5.1 %), inverted teats (5.1 %) and blocked teats (4.2 %). According to the CMT, the prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 33.4 % in all the mammary gland quarters, 71.0 % in quarters with teat lesions and 24.5%in quarters without teat lesions. There was a significant (P < 0.01) association between teat lesions and the prevalence of subclinical mastitis. The mammary gland quarters with teat lesions were 7.2 times more likely to have a positive CMT (P < 0.01) and 5.6 times more likely to have bacterial organisms (P < 0.01) isolated from them than those without any teat lesions. The bacterial organisms most frequently isolated from the CMT-positive milk samples from both the mammary gland quarters with teat lesions and those without teat lesions were Staphylococcus aureus (50.0 %), Streptococcus spp. (34.8 %) and Arcanobacterium pyogenes (6.2 %)

An unusual presentation of suspected oedema disease of swine in Kenya : case report

From a group of 11 recently weaned pigs, 4 were reported to be sick. Clinical examination of the sick pigs revealed marked dyspnoea, bluish-red discolouration of the skin, incoordination and difficulty in walking. Bacteriological examination of the gut contents of 2 pigs that had died earlier yielded pure cultures of haemolytic Escherichia coli. Post mortem examination of the remaining 2 pigs that died subsequently revealed progressive pulmonary collapse. One of these also showed subcutaneous oedema of the head and marked oedema of the mesentery of the spiral colon and oedema of the brain. Microscopically there was pulmonary alveolar collapse and degenerative changes in the liver.On the basis of the clinical signs, isolation of haemolytic E. coli and the post mortem findings, a diagnosis of oedema disease was made

Changes in Concentrations of Certain Plasma and Erythrocyte Minerals Associated with Hypomagnesaemia in Young Calves

Hypomagnesaemia was induced in young calves 1–2 weeks old by feeding them with a diet composed of skimmed milk and barley straw to which urea, potassium chloride and soya‐bean oil were added. Blood samples were collected from each calf once a week from the jugular vein until there was a significantly lower (P < 0.01) plasma magnesium (PMg) concentration in the experimental compared to the control calves receiving MgO instead of KCl. In addition to PMg, the blood samples were analysed for plasma sodium, potassium, calcium, inorganic phosphate and erythrocyte concentrations of magnesium, sodium and potassium and red blood cell counts. The erythrocyte magnesium (EMg) concentration decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in both groups. The decrease was, however, greater (P < 0.05) in the magnesium deficient group than in the control group. Erythrocyte sodium (ENa) concentration increased and erythrocyte potassium (EK) concentration decreased in both groups, and the changes did not differ significantly between the two groups. Plasma concentrations of sodium (PNa) and potassium (PK) and red blood cell counts did not change significantly in either group. Significant (P < 0.05) decreases in plasma calcium and inorganic phosphate concentrations occurred in the magnesium deficient group only. Veränderungen von Mineralstoff‐Konzentrationen im Plasma und in den Erythrozyten bei der Hypomagnesämie junger Kälber Bei 1–2 Wochen alten Kälbern wurde durch Verfütterung von Magermilch und Gerstenstroh mit Harnstoff‐Kaliumchlorid‐ und Sojaöl‐Zusatz eine Hypomagnesämie induziert. Dabei wurde einmal wöchentlich bei jedem Kalb eine Blutprobe aus der Vena jugularis entnommen, bis sich ein im Vergleich zu Kontrollkälbern, die anstatt KCl MgO erhielten, ein signifikant niedrigerer (p < 0,01) Plasma‐Magnesium‐(PMg)‐Spiegel ergab. Neben dem PMg wurden der Plasma‐Natrium‐, ‐Kalium‐, ‐Calcium‐ und ‐Phosphat‐Spiegel sowie die Konzentrationen von Magnesium, Natrium und Kalium in den Erythrozyten bestimmt. Die Zahl der Erythrozyten wurde ebenfalls ermittelt. Die Magnesium‐Konzentration in den Erythrozyten (EMg) nahm bei beiden Gruppen signifikant (p < 0,01) ab. Diese Abnahme war jedoch bei der Magnesium‐Mangelgruppe größer. Die Natrium‐Konzentration in den Erythrozyten (ENa) erhöhte sich, und die Kalium‐Konzentration in den Erythrozyten (EK) erniedrigte sich in beiden Gruppen. Dabei ergaben sich keine signifikanten Gruppenunterschiede. Die Plasma‐Natrium‐(PNa)‐ und Plasma‐Kalium‐(PK)‐Konzentrationen sowie die Zahl der Erythrozyten veränderten sich in keiner der Gruppen signifikant. Eine signifikante (p < 0,05) Abnahme der Plasma‐Calcium‐ und ‐Phosphat‐Konzentration ergab sich bei der Magnesium‐Mangelgruppe

Prevalence of microorganisms associated with udder infections in dairy goats on small-scale farms in Kenya : short communication

Six hundred and thirty clinically-normal milk samples from dairy goat flocks comprising a mixed population of German Alpine, Toggenburg, Saanen and Galla crosses were exam-ined over a 3-month period to determine the prevalence of bacterial organisms. Bacteria were isolated in 28.7 % of the milk samples (181/630) either singly (92.8 %) or in combination (7.2 %). The most prevalent bacterial organisms were Staphylococcus spp. (60.3 %), followed by Micrococcus spp. (17.7 %), Acinetobacter spp. (5 %), Actinomyces spp. (5%) and Streptococcus spp. (1.1 %). The Staphylococcus spp. were mainly coagulase negative (64.3 %). Coagulase-- negative staphylococci and coagulase-positive staphylococci accounted for 37.5 % and 22.7 % respectively of the total bacteria isolated. The isolation of bacteria, some of which are important in clinical and subclinical mastitis, in apparently normal caprine milk, indicates that particular attention should be given to the management of these dairy goat flocks in order to avoid the development of cases of clinical mastitis

Use Of Ethnoveterinary Remedies In The Management Of Foot And Mouth Disease Lesions In A Diary Herd

An outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) affecting 95 (57.2%) out of 166 cattle occurred in a medium-scale dairy farm in Kikuyu district, Kenya. Ethnoveterinary remedies of natural Soda ash solution (97% sodium bicarbonate), honey and finger millet flour were used to manage the FMD lesions. The lesions were washed with soda ash solution to remove the necrotic tissue after which raw honey and finger millet flour were applied to the cleaned lesions. The lesions were examined daily and those with necrotic material washed again with the Soda ash solution. Honey and finger millet flour were applied daily for three days. There was rapid healing of the lesions with the animals resuming feeding after three days. The fast healing of the lesions vindicates the use of these cheap, locally available and easy to apply products in the management of FMD lesions. However, more studies are needed to evaluate further their potencies