Congenital ocular dermoid cyst in a river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calf

Clinical and histopathological findings of a congenital ocular dermoid cyst, located at the lower eyelid of a river female buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calf were presented. A soft, fluctuant, non-tender, hyperaemic cystic mass was detected overlaying the left eye. Fine needle aspirate revealed filamentous debris with no malignant cells. The cyst was treated surgically by orbital exenteration and subsequently subjected to histopathological examination. The histopathological study disclosed a conjunctival dermoid cyst. This report is novel, in that; such ocular cyst has not previously been described in river buffalo calves.     

Possible death of a buffalo calf (Syncercus caffer) due to suspected heartwater (Ehrlichia ruminantium)

Rickettsial organisms resembling Ehrlichia ruminantium (the causative organism of heartwater) were demonstrated in brain smears and formalin-fixed brain sections derived from a buffalo calf that died on a private game reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The possibility that the tick-free environment of a quarantine boma may have affected the calf's immunity, is discussed. These findings suggest that monitoring heartwater in wild ruminants and making brain smears as a routine during post mortem evaluations of wild ruminants, should be encouraged.     

Malignant catarrhal fever in a swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calf in New Zealand

Malignant catarrhal fever was diagnosed in a newly imported swamp buffalo calf. This disease is prevalent in deer and cattle in New Zealand and causes sporadic losses in these species. The disease is recognised as a problem in buffaloes overseas and this paper records the first case in a swamp buffalo in New Zealand.     

Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) poisoning in a calf

Cynoglossum officinale was believed to be responsible for the death of one calf and possibly 5 other calves in a group of 9 calves being fed chopped hay contaminated by this plant. The plant, commonly known as hound's tongue, contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and has been determined to be toxic to horses fed contaminated hay, but was fed to cattle at the same time with no effect.     

Effects of milk feeding, frequency and concentration on weaning and buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calf growth, health and behaviour

Growth, weight at birth and daily weight gain (DWG) on 12 water buffalo calves, starting from 6 days of age until completion of weaning, was investigated in this study. Different feeding regimens were given to two groups of animals with regard to daily milk replacer: (1) group 1 (G1) received a double concentration in single administration; whereas (2) group 2 (G2) received the same amount of milk replacer split twice daily. Blood samples were collected from each calf on days 6, 30, 60 and 90 to evaluate acute phase proteins (haptoglobin), bactericide activity, lysozime, total protein content and biochemical parameters. No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of dry matter intake, feed efficiency and live body weight at the end of the study. Interestingly, a significantly (P?<?0.05) reduced DWG was observed earlier in G1 (day 45) than in G2 (day 60). Gastrointestinal disorders were not recorded throughout the experimental period, and no significant differences were recorded between the two groups for all considered parameters. This study confirms the possibility of utilising one daily administration of milk replacer in water buffalo calf during weaning. This new approach facilitates calves management, without interfering with calves growing performances.     

Neosporosis in a white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) calf

A 16-day-old white rhinoceros calf died suddenly while in excellent condition and showing no obvious previous clinical signs. It was the 9th calf of a mature female kept free-ranging with 11 other rhinoceros as well as various other game species on a 2000 hectare game breeding centre adjacent to the town of Lichtenburg and outlying cattle farmlands in the Northern Province. At post mortem examination, death was ascribed to heart failure. There was marked multifocal to coalescing subacute parasitic myocarditis with numerous protozoan bradyzoite cysts and free tachyzoites present amongst the predominantly round cell inflammatory infiltrate. The coccidian was positively identified as Neospora sp. using both polyclonal and murine monoclonal Neospora caninum antibody immunohistochemistry in the avidin-biotin technique. The parasites stained poorly with Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoperoxidase staining. Ultrastructurally, a section of a bradyzoite-containing cyst, as well as tachyzoites, were largely but not totally consistent with those described for Neospora caninum. The dam showed no sign of illness. Neosporosis affecting white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) has not previously been reported. A summarised overview of neosporosis from selected publications and a recent review is given.     

Sphingomyelinase deficiency (Niemann-Pick disease) in a Hereford calf

A 5-month-old Hereford calf with neurologic disease was euthanatized, and a necropsy was done. No gross lesions were seen in the brain. Microscopically, neurons throughout the brain and spinal cord had distended, foamy vacuolated cytoplasm. Ultrastructure showed clear vacuoles filling the neuronal cytoplasm. A lysosomal storage disease was suspected. Sphingomyelinase deficiency was confirmed by biochemical analysis of liver and brain.     

Bacillus piliformis infection (Tyzzer's disease) in a calf

A 1-week-old Jersey bull calf with a history of diarrhea, weakness, and lethargy was submitted for necropsy. Principal macroscopic findings were enteritis and multifocal necrotizing hepatitis. Histologically and ultrastructurally, organisms with characteristics of Bacillus piliformis were associated with the foci of necrosis in the liver.     

Double vertebral injury in a calf (case report)

A double spinal cord trauma of an eight weeks old calf is reported, born on pasture from a heifer as a premature birth at the beginning of month 9. Observations made were rupture of intervertebral disk at the crossing of cervical to thoracic vertebrae followed by syndesmosis or synchondrosis resp., as well as a comminuted fracture of the 1st lumbar vertebra including both the adjoining vertebrae, with succeeding reactive callus formation. It is concluded that this traumatization has occurred during parturition. Motoric or sensory disturbances were observed neither.     

The microanatomy of the palatine tonsils of the buffalo (Bos bubalus)

The palatine tonsils play a key role in initiating immune responses against antigens entering the body through the mouth. They are also replication sites of some pathogens. There is no data available about the structure of the palatine tonsils of the Egyptian water buffalo. Therefore, palatine tonsils of 14 clinically healthy buffalo bulls (2–3 years old) were examined macroscopically and microscopically using light, and transmission electron microscopes. The tonsils had an elongated kidney shape with a central invagination (tonsillar fossa) containing a single macroscopic opening leading to a small central cavity (tonsillar sinus). A number of macroscopic crypts originated from this sinus (internal crypts). Besides the tonsillar fossa, also small macroscopic crypts (external crypts) were present. The tonsils were enclosed by a thin connective tissue capsule and septa divided the tonsils into incomplete lobes. Within these encapsulated organs mucous glands were very obvious. Each crypt was highly branched and lined with stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium. Several lymphoid cells infiltrated between the epithelial cells forming patches of lymphoepithelium. The crypt lumen contained lymphocytes, neutrophils and erythrocytes. Lymph nodules with clear germinal centers extended under the epithelial surface. Diffusely distributed lymphocytes were found in the narrow interfollicular region. High endothelial venules, interdigitating dendritic cells, macrophages and plasma cells were observed among the diffuse lymphocytes. Lymphatics filled with lymphocytes drained the tonsils.     

The clinico-pathology of a malignant catarrhal fever syndrome in the Indonesian swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Between September 1979 and May 1982, 50 of 177 swamp buffaloes became sick and died S3 to 719 days (mean 271) after being transferred to a research facility and housed in quarters adjacent to where sheep and goats were kept. The major clinical signs were anorexia, fever, conjunctivitis, scleral hyperaemia, ocular discharge, hyperaemia of skin, enlargement of lymph nodes and depression. Postmortem and histopathological lesions were observed in most of the tissues and organs of the body. A vasculitis with adventitial mononuclear cell infiltration and lymphoreticular reactions suggested a relationship to malignant catarrhal fever. The occurrence of serofibrinous epicarditis and myocarditis, which was seen in buffaloes in all cases, has not been a common finding in ruminants with malignant catarrhal fever.     

The egg production of Toxocara vitulorum in Asian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The egg production of Toxocara vitulorum in Asian buffalo has been studied. Eggs were first present in the faeces of calves when they were 22.3 +/- 1.6 days old. In calves treated with pyrantel when 3 days old, the age at first patency was extended by 3.5 days indicating that there was no pre-natal transmission. Calves on only half the milk of the cow had a significantly longer prepatent period of 27.7 +/- 2.2 days. The peak egg output occurred in calves 35.7 +/- 2.6 days old and had a duration of 5.5 +/- 2.5 days with 98,000 +/- 63,700 eggs g-1 of faeces. The duration of the patent period was 35 +/- 12 days. The average lengths of populations of mature female parasites from different hosts at the time of peak egg output or older, ranged from 15.0 to 31.0 cm and was correlated with those of the males in the same populations (10.6-20.4 cm). The size of females was not affected by intraspecific competition. The proportion of males in the populations was 0.39 +/- 0.11. The egg output per female per day at the peak was 110,000 +/- 58,000 and was correlated with the size of the females at autopsy, but the egg output per female per day at the time of autopsy was lower and was not correlated, so it was concluded that the drop in egg counts was the result of reduced fecundity. The fertility of the eggs from faeces was greater than 92% throughout.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)