Sudden death of Icelandic dairy cattle
Sigurdarson, S.; Thorsteinsson, T.
Veterinary Record 127(16): 410
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 2267718 Document Number: 352734
The authors describe a disease which has caused sudden deaths in dairy cattle in many parts of Iceland for the last 20 years. It has caused considerable losses on almost 40 farms. The deaths have not been attributed to known causes and there has been no indication that the disease is infectious. The sudden deaths are seen most often in high yielding dairy cows aged 6 months to 12 years. Morbidity is generally low but has been as high as 30% on some farms. Clinical signs and PM findings are described. Clostridium perfringens has been isolated from mucosa and small intestine but the bacterial toxins have been identified only once. Vaccinations of affected herds with C. perfringens toxoid has given variable results.