NADIS disease bulletins are written specifically for farmers, to increase awareness of prevalent conditions and promote disease prevention and control, in order to benefit animal health and welfare.

Farmers are advised to discuss their individual farm circumstances with their veterinary surgeon.

Heart Infections in Cattle

Bacterial infection of the heart is a common cause of individual illness in cattle. There are two main sorts of heart infection; (a) pericarditis, infection of the lining around the heart, which is almost always associated with a wire penetrating the heart from the stomach, and (b) endocarditis, infection of the heart valves, which is almost always caused by bacteria travelling from a site of infection elsewhere in the body and lodging in the heart.

Clinical Signs

The signs of heart disease in cattle are often vague and therefore difficult to spot. Additionally, cattle with heart disease often have other diseases at the same time, which mean that the signs associated with the heart problem can be even more difficult to see

Ø Persistent high temperature

Ø Loss of appetite

Ø Depressed

Ø Increased pulse rate

Ø Cattle with pericarditis generally show more pain (arching of the back, reluctance to move) than cows with endocarditis

Diagnosis

In the absence of clear signs of disease elsewhere such as severe metritis, these cows usually present to the stockman as cows that are under the weather for no obvious reason. A veterinary examination is essential to identify the cause of the problem

Treatment

In both cases treatment with antibiotics may lead to temporary improvement. However in most cases relapse occurs soon after treatment stops. Slaughter is probably the best option, but it likely that in many cases the affected animal will not be fit for food

Prevention

Prevention of pericarditis is dependent on preventing wires damaging the intestines:

i) Remove the source of wire. Old tyres that show any evidence of wear must be thrown away and not used on silage clamps

ii) Use rumen magnets to catch and hold wires

Prevention of endocarditis is based on preventing the disease that lead to it, such as mastitis, metritis and foot abscesses

Richard Laven PhD BVetMed MRCVS