Preface

Cattle constitute one of the major livestock species and are an important economical factor in many countries. The world cattle population is estimated at 1.5 billion animals, more than 1 billion of them in tropical and subtropical countries. They are heavily exposed to numerous bacterial infections, which drastically affect their well-being as well as their productivity. Infectious diseases also play an important economical role in cattle.

This book discusses important bacterial diseases and suggestive prevention strategies based on progress in this field. It includes four sections and five chapters that provide the most common diseases and an overview of the essential methods for their prevention and control.

The book will be useful to researchers and students of veterinary sciences as well as those who are interested in cattle production.

The book is the result of collaborating parties. I gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by all authors who have contributed to the publication of this volume and the IntechOpen editorial office that initiated this project and saw it to its completion.

The editor is thankful to every individual who helped in the preparation of this book and is also indebted to the chapter contributors for accepting helpful criticism for the present shape of the book.

Finally, thanks are due to Mrs. Marina Dusevic, Author Service Manager of IntechOpen, for sending information and guidelines for editing the book chapters well on time.

**Dr. Hussein Abdel hay El-Sayed Kaoud**

Full Professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Hygiene and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, El-Giza, Egypt

**1**

Section 1

How to Use the Book

Section 1 How to Use the Book

**3**

**Chapter 1**

Introductory Chapter: Bacterial

and Their Control

*Hussien Abdelhay Kaoud*

**1. Introduction**

Cattle Diseases - Economic Impact

Many diseases in modern animal farming are thought to have a direct link to the environment with the change of intensive systems with high animal densities on specialized farms; a change in the character of animal diseases took place [1].

Diseases no longer follow the traditional pattern, whereby one specific pathogen

provoked clear clinical symptoms with a specific pathology. Intensification also meant that the animal became increasingly dependent on mechanical equipment for

The considerable increase in herd size and the close contact between animals favor a quick passage of pathogens, which can lead to an increase in virulence and an increased infection pressure [2]. Some animal breeds are productive but may lack sufficient disease resistance and are sensitive to relatively small perturbation in

In contrast to the classical disease of specific etiology, these new disorders are called multifactorial diseases. Multifactorial diseases changed the pattern of diseases, morbidity, and productivity considerably. The characteristic of a multifactorial disease is that there is a variety of internal and external factors involved, and none of the factors alone can produce the disease itself. There are various formulations of the laws of causation, which are applicable to multifactorial infectious and noninfectious diseases [3]. The unified concept of causation by Evans marshals "formal epidemiology" can be applied where a causal hypothesis can be sufficiently probable to provide the rational basis for prophylactic and therapeutic measures. The causation of modem infectious diseases by the relationships between pathogen, host, route of transmission, and environment makes the transition of an infection into a disease possible. The external factors representing the environment include the physical, chemical, and biological environment, housing, management, feed, and water. Together with pathogens or facultative pathogens, these factors influence well-being, health, and performance. A disease, however, will develop only if the "internal factors" of the animal are unable to respond properly. The most important internal factors are genetic disposition (e.g., lack of resistance or adaptation, hormonal dysfunction) and

The aim of this chapter is to inform owners, veterinary professional, and others who are interested in Advanced Veterinary Science dealing with those bacterial infectious diseases, which occur relatively frequently in dairy and beef cattle and focus on general principles for the prevention and control of these diseases, providing detailed information on each disease. The information includes the following: economic impact, recognition of the disease, method of prevention for the spread

mechanical ventilation, feeding, and manure removal.

their artificial environment, such as in temperature or air supply.

immunity (e.g., maternal antibodies, immunosuppressant).
