Presence of Cytoecetes phagocytophila in an atypical disease of cattle in Spain
Juste, R.A.; Scott, G.R.; Paxton, E.A.; Gelabert, J.L.; Jiménez, S.
Veterinary Record 124(24): 636
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 2773206 Document Number: 343144
A few days after 19 dairy cows and 15 heifers were moved onto fresh pastures in May some of the animals became depressed and ate less; later some animals coughed, developed nasal discharges and dyspnoea. Milk yields fell in all 14 lactating cows, 10 of which also developed mastitis. Five cows aborted and the uterus regressed in 2 other cows. Twenty days after the clinical onset of the illness 7 animals were febrile and 10 showed evidence of Ixodes ricinus infestation. Leukopenia was present in 13 animals and leukocytosis in 21 animals with abnormal lung sounds. Brucella abortus antibodies were present in 7 animals and IgM antibodies to C. phagocytophila were present in the 5 animals that were examined. Four abortions were associated with brucellosis and one with C. phagocytophila infection. The cattle were all slaughtered. It is suggested that the immunodepressive effect of C. phagocytophila may have exacerbated latent brucellosis and enhanced the effect of other pathogens resulting in the high incidences of mastitis and abnormal lung sounds.