Content
Smallpox in cattle is a serious cause for concern, as in the absence of timely treatment, this disease can cause colossal damage to the farm. The virus has its own characteristics and characteristics that make it possible to recognize it in cows. Therefore, it is important that the farmer is able to identify a sick animal and isolate it from the rest of the livestock in a timely manner. In addition, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the main methods of treating and preventing smallpox, which must be used to maintain the health of cows.
Causes of occurrence
Smallpox is a viral disease caused by the DNA virus Orthopoxvirus and its strains. The main carriers are infected animals. Transmission of infection occurs through unprotected skin and mucous secretions from the nose and mouth. Most often, smallpox progresses during the period of stall keeping of cows, as a result of which there is a lack of vitamins, which leads to a weakening of the immune system. Also, carriers of a dangerous virus can be rodents and blood-sucking insects.
The main reasons for the massive spread of infection:
- non-observance of the temperature of keeping cattle;
- high humidity and dirt in the barn;
- insufficient ventilation in the room;
- lack of walking;
- unbalanced diet.
All these factors contribute to a decrease in immunity, so the cow's body cannot resist the smallpox virus. As a result, he begins to progress and in a matter of days can infect all livestock.
Symptoms of smallpox in cattle
The incubation period of chickenpox can last from three to nine days, from the moment the virus enters the body. After this time, the first signs begin to appear in the infected cow.
During the first day, redness or roseola forms on the skin in the udder area, as well as on the mucous membrane of the nose and mouth. In the next 2-3 days, a papule or a compacted nodule appears on the inflamed area. After 3-4 days, the formation turns into a bubble filled with liquid, and on the 10-12th day a purulent vesicle appears. Starting from the 14th day, education gradually fades away. In its place, a scab appears, covered with a dark crust.
Other common signs of infection:
- decreased appetite;
- aggressive behavior;
- dejected state;
- fever;
- high temperature;
- decrease in milk yield;
- inflamed lymph nodes;
- swelling of the mucous membrane of the nose and mouth, as well as the skin on the nipples and udder;
- rash.
As you can see in the photo, with the development of smallpox on the udder of a cow, skin rashes over time merge into a single whole, covered with a dark crust, which cracks and bleeds with any movement. This gives excruciating pain to the animal. Therefore, the cow tries to take a comfortable position or spread her legs wide to reduce discomfort.Against this background, she may not allow the milkmaid to approach her, since any touch to sore nipples or udder causes acute pain.
The course of the disease
It is extremely difficult to detect smallpox in a cow at the initial stage of development, since during the entire incubation period the disease develops asymptomatically.
When an infection enters the body, the virus concentrates in the epithelial tissues. It penetrates directly into cells, violates their structure and structure.
There are three forms of smallpox in cows:
- acute - duration three weeks, accompanied by high fever, fever, scab formation;
- subacute - duration 20-25 days, proceeds without characteristic skin rashes;
- chronic - is extremely rare, characterized by clear signs of exacerbation with the appearance of a rash and periods of remission.
With a mild form of smallpox, a sick cow recovers after 20 days, with a severe stage of the disease - after two months.
This disease is most easily tolerated by males.
Smallpox is most dangerous for young calves, since their immune system has not had time to fully develop and is unable to resist the further spread of infection. In the absence of adequate treatment, the smallpox pathogen penetrates the respiratory and digestive organs and thereby provokes the development of bronchopneumonia and gastroenteritis.
The severe course of smallpox in the absence of adequate therapy can lead to the death of the entire livestock. Therefore, when the first alarming symptoms appear, you must immediately call the veterinarian, since any delay only worsens the situation.
Diagnostics of the disease in cattle
It is not difficult to detect chickenpox in a cow when a rash appears on the udder and other areas of the skin, as well as mucous membranes. But, in order to exclude the likelihood of other diseases that are accompanied by similar rashes, additional clinical tests should be carried out. To test for smallpox, the blood of a sick cow, fluid from the blisters, and also smears from the surface of the opened inflamed areas are used.
The resulting biomaterial is tested in a veterinary laboratory, which helps to identify the presence of the smallpox virus. And also experts determine the degree of its danger and the stage of development of the infection.
When the diagnosis is confirmed, the sick cow should be immediately separated from the rest of the herd. And it is also necessary to follow all the instructions of the veterinarian, which will avoid an epidemic on the farm.
Treatment for smallpox in a cow on the udder
There is no specific treatment for smallpox in cattle. All methods are aimed at reducing unpleasant symptoms and maintaining the general condition of the cow.
The main methods of treatment:
- Antibiotic use. These types of drugs are not capable of inhibiting the smallpox virus. They are used only in the case of the development of secondary bacterial infections against the background of a weakened immune system.
- Means for maintaining the general condition of a sick cow. To help the body fight the smallpox virus, it is recommended to use drugs such as lactic acid and Vetom 11. The course of admission and dosage is prescribed by the veterinarian, depending on the severity of the disease.
- Disinfectants. For the treatment of ulcers on the udder of a cow, tincture of potassium iodide, a solution of chloramine with a 3% concentration of the active substance and borax are used. Regular use of them helps to stop the further spread of the smallpox rash.
- Preparations for wound healing. In this case, it is recommended to apply petroleum jelly, ichthyol or zinc ointment to the inflamed areas.This promotes drying of the skin in the affected areas and accelerates the regenerative processes.
- Local agents for softening scabs. At the stage of formation of a dark crust on the skin, any movement leads to the appearance of cracks and their bleeding. Therefore, in order to soften these areas, various ointments with vegetable oils and glycerin are prescribed.
In case of smallpox damage to the nasopharyngeal mucosa, regular washing with a solution of boric acid (3%) is used.
In the case of rashes on the mucous membrane of the eye in a cow, rinsing of the inflamed cornea with a solution of furacilin is additionally prescribed. During the acute phase, such treatment should be carried out at least twice a day.
To speed up the recovery of sick cows, you need to provide them with adequate care. To do this, in the insulator, the temperature of the content should be within 20-25 degrees and good ventilation. It is also recommended to constantly change the litter and wash the inventory.
In the first days, the sick individual must be fed with liquid mixtures, and after 3-4 days, wet mash can be used. In addition, the animal should not lack water. The more the cow drinks, the faster the body will be able to cope with the smallpox virus.
In dairy cows, it is necessary to express milk constantly to prevent stagnation and the development of mastitis. If this cannot be done manually, then a catheter must be used. The resulting milk can be fed to calves, but only after double pasteurization.
Smallpox treatment with folk remedies
Folk remedies are also capable of speeding up recovery. They must be used in combination with the main therapy, since they alone are not able to resist the smallpox virus.
For treatment, it is recommended to add fresh blackberry and elderberry leaves, as well as the teeth and tops of garlic to the sick cow's feed.
To process the udder and affected nipples, you need to prepare a healing herbal decoction.
The principle of its preparation:
- Grind the sorrel and elderberry leaves in equal amounts.
- Pour the resulting mass with water, the volume of which should be twice the greenery.
- Boil the product for 30 minutes. over low heat.
- Insist for two hours, cleanse.
With the resulting broth, wash the wounds of the cow twice daily.
Epidemic Prevention Methods
When characteristic signs of smallpox appear on the farm, a number of measures must be taken to prevent further spread of the virus. First of all, it is necessary to examine all animals and separate the sick, as well as suspicious individuals.
After that, disinfect all rooms, devices and equipment in order to destroy the smallpox virus, with a mixture of the following components:
- 4% caustic soda solution;
- 2% formaldehyde;
- 20% calcium oxide.
In addition, it is necessary to sprinkle the slurry with chlorine and burn the bedding. Also, on the territory of the entire farm, various disinfection barriers should be installed in order to protect not only the rest of the cow population, but also other animals from smallpox.
After milking, all fixtures and fittings should be treated with sodium hypochlorite solution in a ratio of 1: 100.
If smallpox symptoms are confirmed, it is necessary to inform the veterinary supervision for special measures to prevent the epidemic. The quarantine is only lifted three weeks after the infected cow recovers.
Is smallpox transmitted to the udder of a cow to humans
The smallpox virus can be transmitted to humans by expressing milk through contact with inflamed areas.The disease is not fatal to health, but an infected person can become a carrier of the smallpox virus, which threatens mass spread.
When working with sick animals, special clothing must be used that must not be carried outside the barn. Before and after milking, hands should be washed with soap and the udder and teats should be disinfected.
Forecast and prevention
The prognosis for chickenpox in cows is favorable if timely and adequate treatment is carried out. The mild form of the disease disappears in two weeks, and the severe form takes two months.
To avoid the development of smallpox, experts recommend that cows be vaccinated in a timely manner. The virus strain is injected once for the auricle. It is especially important to vaccinate in potentially unsafe areas to prevent mass contamination.
Outbreaks of the disease are most often recorded in the autumn, during the transition from grazing to stall keeping. Since smallpox is considered a disease of the udder in cows, to prevent infection, veterinarians recommend, starting in August, to lubricate the skin of the hands with special antiseptic creams, such as Burenka, Lyubava, Zorka.
Other preventive measures:
- When buying new cows, you must first isolate them from the herd for four weeks, and also check if there are any outbreaks of smallpox in their places of previous residence.
- Every week, you need to disinfect the stalls and equipment.
- The barns should be kept clean as this is the best prevention.
- Rooms should be dry, spacious and warm to prevent mold and reduce the likelihood of developing smallpox virus.
- Change the litter as it gets dirty, and clean the manure weekly with subsequent treatment of the floors with a disinfectant solution.
- When switching to wintering, whitewash the walls with slaked lime.
- Avoid stagnant water in drinking bowls, as it is a favorable breeding ground for the smallpox virus.
- At least once a year, disinfect from rodents and harmful insects.
Smallpox affects immunocompromised cows. Therefore, you need to provide animals with a balanced diet to prevent vitamin deficiency.
The daily diet should include:
- hay - 2 kg;
- spring straw or sunflower cake - 2.7 kg;
- silo - 15 kg;
- coniferous flour - 1 kg;
- table salt - 70 g.
It is also important to regularly examine the udder and nipples, nasal and oral mucosa for rashes. If characteristic symptoms of smallpox are found, immediately begin treatment. You need to act in consultation with the veterinarian, since ignoring the general rules can significantly complicate the situation.
Conclusion
Experienced farmers know that smallpox in cattle can cause massive destruction of animals, so it is useless to try to cure the disease with folk remedies. Only complex therapy can have a depressing effect on the smallpox virus.
Otherwise, the disease will be severe, which will significantly increase the cost of treating and maintaining sick cows.
