Smallpox in cows: treatment and symptoms

In the world there are hundreds of various pathogenic viruses and diseases caused by them. But smallpox in cows is a legend in its own right, since it was her pathogen that was used to create the world's first vaccine. Today, this ailment is not so common, but still it is worth remembering to all owners of these animals.

What it is?

Cow pox is a viral disease, manifested in the appearance of small ulcers and pustules on the skin, accompanied by a brief and insignificant increase in the body's total body temperature. Skin lesions, as a rule, disappear on their own (with time). However, if the animal's immune system is suppressed by drugs or another disease, the infection can go through a severe type, which is fraught with unpleasant consequences.

Causes of the disease

There are many viruses that cause a rash, which can infect many different kinds of animals. Despite the fact that the cowpox virus infects cattle, there are many cases of transferring it to other domestic animals, since cows are not a natural reservoir for this pathogen. In particular, the virus of domestic cats and even cheetahs, cattle and (very often) people working with cows was repeatedly described as a virus.

In addition, the disease can occur in dogs, elephants and horses. Surprisingly, many scientists suggest that the natural owner of the cowpox virus is ... small mouse-shaped rodents!

Veterinarians are convinced that smallpox epidemics in isolated cows (in separated villages) are possible solely because of the actions of the peddlers. Among them may belong: red vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), usual vole (Microtus agrestis) and house mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus).

When more than 1,500 rodents were examined, the researchers determined that at least 27% of them are natural vectors of the virus. Usually such "reservoirs on legs" show no signs of infection. Cases of smallpox (and regular) are reported in many European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and throughout the former Soviet Union.

What is happening in some countries of the Asian region and Africa, one has only to guess. However, the regular essays of naturalists and ethnographers show that with cowpox in these parts are more than regularly encountered.

Spread of the disease

The spread of infection among cows and other domestic animals is believed to be rather insignificant, but there are variations that depend on the geographic location of a particular locality. There is no breed, age or gender predisposition, but the risk of infection is markedly increased in seasons, when rodents are massively beginning to penetrate agricultural buildings (for example, autumn).

Most often, smallpox in cows occurs where animals are kept on a walking ground, that is, somehow in contact with the external environment. In the conditions of modern automated systems, where cattle do not go out and where there is regular deratization, outbreaks of the disease are not fixed at all (with very few exceptions).

Clinical signs of infection

As a rule, the virus enters the body in an alimentary way, by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. In addition, cases were recorded after bites of rats and mice. How does cowpox manifest itself? Symptoms of it are quite typical. Viral infection becomes apparent after a few days, when on the skin of the udder appear small wrinkled nodules (papules). This can be accompanied by a secondary bacterial infection, up to the formation of abscesses, so smallpox in cows is not such a harmless disease as some owners think.

In addition, viremia develops (a virus in the blood). It spreads very quickly to all organs and tissues of the body, which often leads to severe consequences. The cases of ulcerative lesions in the gastrointestinal tract were described. In more moderate situations, rhinitis, pneumonia and diarrhea develop. Fortunately, this does not always come to pass. Typically, the maximum that threatens the cow - a brief increase in body temperature, mild indigestion and a short-term failure to feed.

Further development of infection

About ten days after penetration of the virus into the body, more numerous, diffuse lesions of the skin develop in the form of papules and pustules. This is smallpox in cows on the udder. Their shape can vary from oval to almost perfectly round, the diameter of lesions rarely exceeds a centimeter. Most often, although this phenomenon is described in veterinary literature, the animal does not experience severe itching.

After a few days, the pustules begin to become crusted, which subsequently dry out and finally fall away from the skin. These lesions can be observed on any part of the body, but are best seen on the udder. Cases of papules and pustules on the skin of the nasal mirror of cows were described (although this is unusual).

When can the disease be deadly?

After about six to eight weeks, the infection "spontaneously" goes to a decline. Important! If, for some reason, the animal at that time received glucocorticoids (steroids), which have a very significant deficiency, expressed in the suppression of the immune system, or if it has any significant problems with the immune system (eg, leukemia), a common Septic damage to all body systems. So if you see that there is smallpox on the udder of a cow, treatment under no circumstances should presuppose the appointment of corticosteroids!

In such cases, often severe pyogenic pneumonia develops, usually resulting in the death of the animal. When signs of an affected respiratory tract appear, it is recommended that the cow be slaughtered for meat. So if your cow has an udder smallpox (there is a photo of the pustule on the pages of this material), you should not take it lightly.

Diagnostics

To confirm / disprove the diagnosis, the veterinarian will take pieces of skin and samples of the contents of the papules. They are used to check for the presence of certain antibodies or the vaccinia virus itself. Infection can be confirmed by the following methods:

• Positive antibody titer in blood tests. This test is carried out with the help of serological reactions. Important! Initially, antibodies are detected no earlier than 7-10 days after the penetration of the pathogen into the body (when the first clinical signs appear). If you do the tests before, their results will be false-negative.
• Cultivation of the virus on the cell culture, as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Detection of the genetic material of the pathogen with its subsequent identification. The test for testing is taken from the crusts that have arisen on the skin of the udder, as there are many viral bodies in them. These types of studies are considered a gold standard for diagnosis, but they require a well-equipped clinic and an experienced veterinarian. However, smallpox in cows (the treatment of which we will discuss later) usually does not require such complex diagnostic techniques.
• Skin biopsy from the affected areas also show characteristic changes in infected cells and, if necessary, the virus can be detected by these indirect symptoms (although this method is less reliable, it is much simpler).

Information on the treatment of sick animals

So how to treat smallpox in cows? In most cases, lesions will heal without intervention for several weeks after the onset of infection, and in moderate cases, often no treatment is required at all. Of course, this does not mean that the disease can be treated by sleeves. If there are many rashes on the skin of the udder, and cow immunity is already weakened by some infection, the consequences can be the most unfavorable, up to the development of sepsis in a massive bacterial lesion.

In the case when signs of deterioration are seen, the sick animal necessarily needs treatment. Specific therapy, as with many other viral pathologies, does not exist. Treatment is symptomatic, supportive. Thus, smallpox in cows, treatment (photo effects of the pathological process is in the article) which we are discussing, no specific features, in comparison with other viral diseases, does not.

What should I use to treat the affected areas of the udder?

The skin of the udder is treated using zinc ointment. It allows you to dry the lesions and speeds up the regeneration process. Moisturizing ointments should not be used, as they may well contribute to maceration (softening) of the skin and simplify the pathogenic microflora task of introducing into its thickness. Because of this smallpox in cows on the udder (treatment, photo - all this is in our material) can become fatal because of the rather high probability of sepsis.

Other recommendations

If the cow does not eat well, drugs that stimulate appetite and, if necessary, light laxatives (like glauber's salt) are used. When the temperature rises, intravenous buffer formulations and glucose solutions are indicated, which help to remove intoxication and contribute to a decrease in temperature. It is vital to avoid the appointment of glucocorticoids, because clinical signs can become much worse.

Once again, we emphasize that in severe cases, when it comes to affecting the lower respiratory tract and lungs, it is recommended to slaughter meat. In this regard, smallpox in cows on the udder (treatment, photos - all this you will find in our article), the disease is quite dangerous.

As a rule, antibiotics are not prescribed for this disease, since such drugs do not act on viruses in principle. But at the slightest risk of developing secondary bacterial infections, the appointment of antimicrobials is fully justified. However, the decision on this should be taken exclusively by a veterinarian. That's how to treat smallpox in cows.

The spread of infection and the risks to people

Transmission from the animal to the animal is extremely rare, but in general it is possible, because it is easy to infect the cow by simply wiping the contents of the papules of her sick "merchandise" into her udder. For humans, infection with cowpox is quite rare, but still such cases occur. In particular, it was on the basis of observations of milkmaids that the world's first vaccine was developed, so that smallpox in cows (the photo of which is in the article) can be recognized as a zooanthroponotic disease.

If possible, the work with sick cows of people with weakened immunity should be restricted. In addition, contact of sick animals with children is undesirable. Again, many pediatricians believe that it is useful for young people to have smallpox: despite its elimination in the world and the absence of infection on the territory of our country, the epidemiological situation in the countries of Central Asia is complex, and the probability of infection is.

Disinfection measures

Use disposable medical gloves when caring for sick animals, be sure to disinfect care items, since the virus is able to survive for a long time at room temperature. For effective disinfection, any means based on sodium hypochlorite (whiteness, other chlorine bleaches) can be used. Thus, smallpox in cows is not the most dangerous disease of cattle, but nevertheless certain measures should be taken when it occurs.