BLACK QUARTER DISEASE
Synonyms
- Black leg
- Quarter ill
- Symptomatic anthrax
Etiology
- Caused by Clostridium
chauvoei
Susceptible Hosts
- Cattle are the most susceptible
host.
Mode of transmission
- The disease spreads from
contaminated soils.
- The organisms gain entry
through ingestion of infected feeds or possibly through contamination of
wounds.
Clinical findings
- Incubation period: 2-5 days
- Muscles degenerate and gases
are evolved.
- Loss of appetite, suspended
rumination, stiffness or lambness in one of the limbs
- Characteristics swelling
develops in the thick layer of muscle, common site are thigh, buttock,
shoulder, neck and lumbar region
- Muscle fibres swollen dark in
colour and dry\
- Spongy texture due to gas
pockets
- Pressure on swelling gives
crackling or crepitating sound
- Skin over the swelling area
becomes discoloured and dry
- Laboured breathing, increased
pulse rate, temperature drops
- Animal dies within 12-48 hrs
Diagnosis
- Tentative diagnosis from
history and clinical signs
- Confirmatory diagnosis from
microscopic examination of smear, smear from affected tissue and fluids
- Cultural test using modified
reinforced clostridial agar, broth medium, tryptose soy agar
- Biological test using G. pig
- Serological test like FAT,
ELISA, double immune diffusion
Differential diagnosis
- Anthrax
- Malignant edema
- Bacillary haemoglobinuria
- Lightening stroke
- Lactationaltetany
Treatment
- penicillin- 10000-22000 iu/kbw
- Antihistaminics- 10 ml
- Analgesics and antipyretics- 15
ml
- Dexamethasone- 5ml
Vaccination
- inactivated cl. Chauvoei
antigens adsorbed in aluminium hydroxide gel
- Dose- cattle, buffalo - 2ml s/c
- Primary vaccination- 6 months
or above
- Revaccination annually
RAKSHA HS, BQ