Some studies on bovine ephemeral fever in cattle and buffaloes in Egypt

Abstract EN

During summer 2004, an outbreak of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) had been spread among cattle as well as buffaloes in Egypt.

The most striking clinical signs in cattle were fever of short duration, depression, stiffness, lameness and sometime decumbency.

Young calves, unfastened bulls and dry, lean non-pregnant cows showed only mild signs while fattened calves, mature heavy bulls and high-producing dairy cows and cows at the late stages of pregnancy were severely affected and signs persisted longer.

Deaths and other complications accompanied the disease such as subcutaneous emphysema was not recorded in these outbreaks.

In buffaloes, the clinical signs were mild and less severe compared with that of cattle.

Serological examination of paired serum samples collected from the diseased animals using serum neutralization test revealed rising of the neutralizing antibody titers for BEF virus after 3 weeks from the onset of clinical signs.

Blood picture and biochemical analysis sera of 6 diseased animals, showed anemia represented by significant decrease in RBCS, PCV % and Hb content.

The leukogram showed neutrophihia and lymphopenia with normal leukocyte count.

There was rise in plasma fibrinogen with drop in calcium and phosphorus values.

All of these parameters were more or less improved three weeks post-recovery.

Good nursing care with early treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (Phenylbutazone) or administration of calcium borogluconate of lame or recumbent animals lead to rapid and prompt recovery.