Paratuberculosis in cattle

Abstract

A chronic disease in cattle occurred on a dairy farm in southern Brazil (28° 47’ 49’’ S 53° 13’ 22’’ W). The herd consisted of 600 black and white Holstein dairy cattle, of which 280 were lactating cows. The attendant veterinarian reported an illness that affected lactating cows. During our visit to the farm, three cows were affected and four had already died. Clinical signs included weight loss over a few weeks, chronic intermittent diarrhea (Fig.1), abrupt drop in milk production, and subcutaneous submandibular edema. The owner used to spray bovine fecal slurry produced at the farm to fertilize the pastures on which where he kept the dairy cows. One cow was euthanized and necropsied.