2006 Volume 59 Issue 10 Pages 669-673
The sudden death of cattle was observed on two farms during the early winter of 2002 at Iwate Prefecture.Thirty of 52 fattening cattle developed recumbency and severe respiratory distress without pyrexia on one farm.Twenty-one cattle died within one or two days, and nine were slaughtered. On the other farm, two of five cattleshowed similar symptoms and died within two to three hours. The outbreak terminated after a vaccinationagainst Clostridium(C. chauvoei, C. septicum, C. novyi type B). Five of the deceased animals were examinedpathologically and bacteriologically. Marked congestion with hemorrhages and edema were observed in thelungs, larynx, trachea and heart at the necropsy. Histologically, fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles was found inmany organs. C. sordellii was isolated from the ileal contents, jejunal lymph nodes, liver and kidneys in threeanimals. The pathological findings in these cases were similar to those in sudden-death syndrome believed tobe clostridial infection, except for the arteriolar changes. Clostridial organisms were considered a possiblecause of the sudden death.
