An expert from the Bryansk Testing Laboratory of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “ARRIAH” explained how to diagnose pasteurellosis in cattle

What is pasteurellosis?

Pasteurellosis is an acute zoonotic infectious disease characterized by fever, intoxication, inflammation of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, arthritis, osteomyelitis. Most animal species and even humans are susceptible to the disease.

Why is pasteurellosis dangerous? What routes of infection are known?

This is a disease that literally in a few days leads to the death of the animal. it poses the greatest danger when it enters large livestock fattening enterprises. In prosperous farms, pasteurellosis is introduced by ill animals, mouse-like rodents, blood-sucking insects and vehicles. Pasteurella are stable in the environment, they remain in water and manure for up to 2-3 weeks, in the blood and contents of the intestine for 6-10 days, up to 4 months in animal corpses. They die when exposed to sunlight, boiling, processing with disinfectants.

All types of domestic animals are susceptible to pasteurellosis. However, pasteurellosis is considered the most dangerous for calves, why is that?

Pasteurellosis in calves develops rapidly. The incubation (hidden) period lasts 1-2 days. There is a sudden rise in temperature to 41-42 ˚С, severe depression, the pulse becomes frequent, tense, frequent breathing is noted. Calves develop diarrhea, often bloody (an intestinal form of the disease). During the first two days, the calves die.

How to diagnose cattle pasteurellosis?

The Bryansk Testing Laboratory of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “ARRIAH” conducts research on the diagnosis of pasteurellosis in cattle by the bacteriological method and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Whole blood, MILK , fragments of parenchymal organs, smears and scrapings from the mucous membranes of the nose, and swabs from surfaces are used as research material .