Hepatogenous Photosensitivity Outbreak after Coccidiosis in Grazing Holstein Steers

Abstract

Clinical signs of photosensitivity in cattle can occur sporadically and unpredictably. It is believed that cases of photosensitivity may be underreported, causing inaccurate and inflated reports of mortality. Additionally, because secondary photosensitization in grazing cattle occurs with liver damage or dysfunction, photosensitivity can have many potential or associated causes. This case links a previous occurrence of coccidiosis to an outbreak of photosensitivity in grazing Holstein steers. Grazing management staff first observed clinical signs of photosensitivity 17 days after an outbreak of coccidiosis and subsequent turnout to spring pastures. Clinical signs were observed in 25% of the population. The severity of photosensitivity was variable and ranged from blistered skin on the muzzle to sloughing of unpigmented epidermis and thinly haired regions. Severely affected cattle were removed from pasture, housed under shade, monitored for infection, and recovered without treatment. Mild cases remained on pasture and recovered without treatment. Photosensitivity did not reoccur in the cattle that remained on pasture or in mildly affected cattle returned to pasture. Photosensitivity did not appear to be associated with pasture weeds, a specific forage species, or variable or extreme weather conditions that could have resulted in mycotoxin production. The occurrence appears to have been a result of a previous and concurrent coccidiosis outbreak that caused secondary photosensitization through hepatic lipidosis caused by anorexia and dehydration associated with the severe coccidiosis. Although clinical signs appeared suddenly, cattle recovered quickly and without treatment.

A Case Study of Photosensitivity Associated with Anaplasma spp. Infection in Cattle

“…Photosensitization can occur hours or days after sun exposure [ 15 ] and causes damage to areas with white or thin hair. Skin necrosis, especially in white areas due to absorption and damage by ultraviolet light, occurs in all types of photosensitization [ 2 ].…”

“…Less well-known causes of photosensitization following common infectious diseases have also been documented. Nieman et al [ 15 ] raise the point that photosensitization in grazing Holstein steers does not always occur in every case of hepatic injury; it may occur in some cases of seemingly mild injury (such as hepatic lipidosis post-coccidiosis) and may not occur in the severe hepatic injury cases of other animals. Grazing conditions and factors associated with forage and chlorophyll also likely played an important role.…”