**5.4 Clostridial diseases**

*Bacterial Cattle Diseases*

**5.2 Listeriosis**

from ingestion of contaminated food [5, 8].

eradication of the disease after 3–5 years.

treatment may take up to 6 weeks or more [5].

about the cost-benefit of vaccination.

against falling milk and abortion.

**5.3 Leptospirosis**

causes debilitating and sometimes chronic disease that affects different organs. Many cases are the result from the contact with infected animals but also occur

In low-prevalence conditions, control of *bovine brucellosis* (BB) can be achieved by combining test and slaughter programs with stringent biosecurity measures and removing of reactors. However, in high-incidence cases, immunization can help the control of outbreaks that reduce the rate of infection at both individual and herd levels. Vaccination with RB51 permits a rapid reduction in the susceptible herds and flocks in an endemic regions, resulting in a rapid decline in the incidence of disease from occurring; this, combined with the frequent testing, permitted the control and

A combination of strict biosecurity measures, strong diagnostic pressure, and vaccination program is able to reduce the spread of BB. The RB51 vaccination allows rapid reduction in vulnerable populations in a highly contagious environment, contributing to a rapid decline in individual infection; this, together with repeated

*Listeriosis* is an infectious disease caused by bacteria, *Listeria monocytogenes*. It is an animal disease. Listeriosis is primarily the winter sickness of the winter feedlot or ruminant dwells. The less acidic pH of the corroded silage enhances the multiplication of *L. monocytogenes*. Listeriosis occurs intermittently in cows, where most cases are associated with feeding fermented and poorly preserved feeds. Listeriosis is an infectious but not contagious disease caused by *Listeria monocytogenes*, which is more common in domestic animals (mammals and domestic poultry), especially ruminants, than humans and is sporadic but can occur like an outbreak in ruminant farms. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics, depending on the shape of the disease;

High doses are required because of the difficulty in achieving minimum concentrations of antibiotics in the brain. Recovery depends on early and aggressive antibiotics. If signs of encephalitis are severe, death usually occurs despite treatment. The risk of listeriosis can be reduced by feeding good quality silage with low pH. Avoid the bad or decomposed silage or the high-grade silage (a few inches) that have been exposed to air. Any remaining residual fodder should be removed at no cost after feeding. Anti-rodents will prevent the spread of bacteria. Vaccines are available in some countries, but the results are questionable, leading to questions

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that has identified five common serovars causing abortion in cattle: *Leptospira canicola*, *L. icterohaemorrhagiae*, *L. grippotyphosa*, *L. hardjo*, and *L. pomona*. Leptospirosis is spread by infected urine or contaminated water (by mice). Control of *Leptospira hardjo* in herds depends on a range of management decisions to reduce the risk of infection, strategic treatment with antibiotics, and vaccination. The main pathway to immunization consists of two spaced injections of 4 weeks followed by an annual lift. Vaccination should prevent the execration of the microorganism in urine after exposure and protect

In contaminated regions, herds without previous infection of leptospiroses, all animals of the herd, including bulls, should be quarantined and isolated for 21 days and given 25 mg/kg streptomycin two times for 10–14 days interval before

testing, allowed control and eventual elimination after 3–5 years

**8**

These include blackleg disease, malignant edema, black disease, enterotoxemia, and redwater disease. All these diseases are common. The organisms form spores that can live for long periods in hostile environments and kill cattle quickly, giving little chance of treatment. Clostridial organisms are mostly normal flora of cattle and become only a problem with food stress, injury, management changes, parasitism, or other unusual conditions that create a favorable growth environment and produce strong toxins. While some diseases rarely occur, most of them occur sporadically in herds. Clostridium disease has generally very poor prognosis, and the first sign of the disease may be death. Because treatment success is rare, proper emphasis is placed on preventive measures [1–3].

Vaccines are widely used in the dairy industry and can be an effective way to reduce losses due to these bacteria. Single vaccination with most clostridial vaccines does not provide adequate levels of protection and should be followed with a booster dose within 3–6 weeks after the first one. Vaccination of calves gives protective immunity for 1–2 months, so the adequate immunization for calves is obtained through vaccination of the pregnant cows, so that maximum immunity and protection are transferred to the calves in the colostrums. Inactivated vaccines, including 2–8 of clostridium types, should be taken at the age of susceptibility to provide maximum and efficient protection.

Livestock diseases cost farmers millions of pounds a year. In addition to deaths, loss of production and loss of animal wealth often(succumbed). Unsolicited animals require more food and take longer to grow than health stocks. The good animal health program calls for full operation between owner and veterinarians. Farmers must also know that many of the diseases that live in stocks go from animal to animal to human. Animals usually acquire diseases either by (1) contact with diseased animals or (2) improper sanitation, nutrition, care, and management.

Protecting the health of animals by restricting purchases to healthy flocks through appropriate quarantine when bringing in new animals through the use of sound sanitation, management, and nutrition principles and using appropriate and reliable vaccines and vaccines for disease prevention is an economic way to avoid disease losses. Prevention of diseases is better and more economical than rushing to control disease outbreaks.

There are three kinds of control measures [1]:


Immunization can be divided into:


Some vaccines are highly effective:


Although the vaccine has improved the situation, it certainly did not prevent the problem. Other control measures, such as rigorous testing of small bulls and the execution or culling of older bulls and late cows, may be more economically beneficial. Some vaccines such as leptospirosis are more effective against nonhost modified strains of host-adapted strains. The general rule is that if postpartum infection leads to a chronic pregnant animal, which means that the animal's immune system has not been able to eliminate the infection, the development of a vaccine that stimulates the immune system adequately to prevent infection is difficult if not impossible. Therefore, the general view is that vaccines can reduce the rate of morbidity (the number of infected animals) and reduce the rate of mortality (deaths) of clinical cases. On the other hand, vaccination alone will not completely prevent the problem and may be other measures of control is equal or more important.

Biosecurity reduces the introduction or the incidence of disease in farms, reduces the spread of diseases already found on farms, and reduces the risk of disease transmission among farms. Biosecurity controls the transmission of pathogens among animals, from animals to fodder, and animals to equipment that may relate directly or indirectly to other animals. Biosecurity practices prevent the spread of disease by reducing the movement of biological organisms and their vectors (viruses, bacteria, rodents, pesticides, etc.) into and within operations through animals, vehicles, visitors, employees, pests, and other means. While the development and maintenance of biosecurity is difficult, it is the cheapest and most effective means of controlling disease, and the disease prevention program will not work without it.

Measures for the prevention and control of disease-producing agents:

• Avoid the introduction of causative agents to the farm or the herd (maintain a closed herd)

**11**

*Introductory Chapter: Bacterial Cattle Diseases - Economic Impact and Their Control*

Owners would have to strictly adhere to the following requirements:

• use homegrown replacements for maintaining and increasing herd size;

Isolate new arrivals or the purchased animals and apply the following measures:

• prevent manure movement from the isolation area to the rest of the herd;

Owners should take precautions when purchasing animals and use laboratorytesting programs to prevent the introduction of diseases to their animals, so the

• purchase disease-free pregnant or virgin heifers to minimize the risk of

• vaccinate the purchased animals if necessary according to the vaccinal pro-

• purchase animals from healthy and certified herd under the health accredited

• the purchased animals must be guaranteed or *isolated for 21–30 days for*:

Vaccines are commonly used to protect cattle against respiratory disease and abortion. For herd additions, these vaccines may be given during the 21- to 30-day isolation period. Vaccination against the diseases should be the cornerstone of every herd vaccination program. Consult your veterinarian for specific recommendations

on these and other aspects of health management for livestock.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83635*

• prevent contacts of stock with other cattle herds;

• use artificial insemination for breeding;

• apply restricted measures against visitors.

• separate housing, feeding, and calving areas;

• quarantine or isolated period is 21–30 days; and

• observe and examine for early disease detection.

• Use laboratory testing before purchasing animals

• prevent contact with other animals;

following precautions should be taken:

introducing mastitis;

gram of the farm;

herds program; and

• Use vaccines

1. Bacterial culture of milk

2. Blood testing for specific diseases

• avoid exhibits or shows; and

• Quarantine measures

The first step is to avoid purchasing cattle from unknown source or purchase from healthy herds.

*Introductory Chapter: Bacterial Cattle Diseases - Economic Impact and Their Control DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83635*

Owners would have to strictly adhere to the following requirements:


*Bacterial Cattle Diseases*

Immunization can be divided into:

tute for good sanitation.

Some vaccines are highly effective:

of bovine respiratory disease); and

• *Campylobacter fetus* vaccine (oil adjuvant vaccine);

*septicum* (malignant edema ) are highly effective.

• *passive immunization* which provides temporary immunity after exposure to a

• *active immunization* which protects animals from pathogens and populations. During the production of antibodies after effective immunization against the disease, there is often an increase in exposure to the disease in question. The period in which immunity varies from vaccine to vaccine. For a given disease, a second booster dose is required after the first vaccination to achieve stronger immunity. Vaccination can be used proactively to give protection but no substi-

• entire *Pasteurella* whole cell bacterins (free of leucotoxoids to avoid the severity

• clostridium toxoids vaccines: *Clostridium chauvoei* (blackleg) and *Clostridium* 

Although the vaccine has improved the situation, it certainly did not prevent the problem. Other control measures, such as rigorous testing of small bulls and the execution or culling of older bulls and late cows, may be more economically beneficial. Some vaccines such as leptospirosis are more effective against nonhost modified strains of host-adapted strains. The general rule is that if postpartum infection leads to a chronic pregnant animal, which means that the animal's immune system has not been able to eliminate the infection, the development of a vaccine that stimulates the immune system adequately to prevent infection is difficult if not impossible. Therefore, the general view is that vaccines can reduce the rate of morbidity (the number of infected animals) and reduce the rate of mortality (deaths) of clinical cases. On the other hand, vaccination alone will not completely prevent the problem and may be other measures of control is equal or

Biosecurity reduces the introduction or the incidence of disease in farms, reduces the spread of diseases already found on farms, and reduces the risk of disease transmission among farms. Biosecurity controls the transmission of pathogens among animals, from animals to fodder, and animals to equipment that may relate directly or indirectly to other animals. Biosecurity practices prevent the spread of disease by reducing the movement of biological organisms and their vectors (viruses, bacteria, rodents, pesticides, etc.) into and within operations through animals, vehicles, visitors, employees, pests, and other means. While the development and maintenance of biosecurity is difficult, it is the cheapest and most effective means of controlling disease, and the disease prevention program will not

Measures for the prevention and control of disease-producing agents:

• Avoid the introduction of causative agents to the farm or the herd (maintain a

The first step is to avoid purchasing cattle from unknown source or purchase

pathogen or when a disease threatens to take epidemic pattern; and

**10**

more important.

work without it.

closed herd)

from healthy herds.

Isolate new arrivals or the purchased animals and apply the following measures:


Owners should take precautions when purchasing animals and use laboratorytesting programs to prevent the introduction of diseases to their animals, so the following precautions should be taken:

	- 1. Bacterial culture of milk
	- 2. Blood testing for specific diseases

Vaccines are commonly used to protect cattle against respiratory disease and abortion. For herd additions, these vaccines may be given during the 21- to 30-day isolation period. Vaccination against the diseases should be the cornerstone of every herd vaccination program. Consult your veterinarian for specific recommendations on these and other aspects of health management for livestock.
