Successful Treatment of Bacillary Hemoglobinuria in Japanese Black Cows

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Four pasture-fed Japanese Black cows showed the main clinical symptoms of severe hemoglobinuria at different periods between 2003 and 2007. Hematological analyses at the first consultation revealed severe anemia, and biochemical analyses indicated both severe hemolysis and disruption of hepatic function. Although the first 2 patients died, the hemoglobinuria and general condition of the remaining 2 cows, who were immediately initiated on large doses of antibiotics, improved within 3 days. Clostridium haemolyticum was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the blood sample of 1 of the infected cows. Anti-fascioliasis medicine is administered, and since then, no case of hemoglobinuria has been observed. The cows were diagnosed with bacillary hemoglobinuria, and they represent the first few cases in Japan.KEY WORDS: bacillary hemoglobinuria, cattle, Clostridium haemolyticum, fascioliasis.

Bacillary Hemoglobinuria in Japanese Black Cattle in Hiroshima, Japan: A Case Study

“…Although previous reports suggested that the clinical course of BHU is rapid and the outcome is almost invariably fatal [2,12], in both of the present cases as well as previous cases [9] subsequently diagnosed as BHU, the animals successfully recovered with the help of antibacterial therapy. For recovery from BHU, it is critical for the dose and route of antibiotic administration at the first treatment to achieve an effective blood concentration of the antibiotic against C. haemolyticum [1,5,6,9].…”

“…These practical limitations of sampling make it difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis for suspected cases of BHU once the animals have completely recovered after antibacterial therapy. Recently, Takagi et al [9] reported the first case of BHU in a Japanese Black cow, which recovered completely, and the diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using a whole blood sample collected before antibacterial therapy. However, to our knowledge, there is no documented report on the possibility or limitations of using molecular diagnosis to identify C. haemolyticum in blood samples collected from infected cattle either during or after antibiotic therapy.…”

“…Based on these findings and the clinical symptoms of the 2 cows, a speculative diagnosis of BHU was made. The animals were treated with a high dose of cefazolin [10 mg/kg intravenously] every 24 hr and ampicillin [10 mg/kg intramuscularly] every 12 hr for a period of 4 days, as recommended [9]. In addition, fecal examination of 1 cow (case 3) was conducted on day 4, and severe fascioliasis infection was detected.…”

“…A diagnostic assay was conducted using a modified version of the nested PCR method previously reported [9]. As shown in Table 1, the primers used in this method were designated on the basis of the flagellin gene (fliC) sequence (DDBJ accession no.…”

“…These results demonstrated that cases 2 and 3 were infected with C. haemolyticum, and the molecular diagnosis of BHU was established. Recently, Takagi et al [9] reported the first occurrence of BHU caused by C. haemolyticum infection in Japanese Black cows in Kagoshima, Japan. To our knowledge, the present paper reports the second occurrence of BHU in Japan, which suggests that BHU could occur anywhere in Japan where cattle feed on pasture that has been contaminated by C. haemolyticum.…”