Prevalence of Cardiac Lesions in Cases of Bovine Blackleg in Tennessee (USA), 2004–2018
Blackleg is a common cause of death in cattle, mostly caused by the bacterium <i>Clostridium chauvoei</i>. Cardiac lesions were traditionally considered uncommon in cases of blackleg in cattle until a 2018 study reported otherwise. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of ca...
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/10/4/297 |
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| author | Chika C. Okafor Francisco A. Uzal Caitlin M. Culligan Kim M. Newkirk |
| author_facet | Chika C. Okafor Francisco A. Uzal Caitlin M. Culligan Kim M. Newkirk |
| author_sort | Chika C. Okafor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Blackleg is a common cause of death in cattle, mostly caused by the bacterium <i>Clostridium chauvoei</i>. Cardiac lesions were traditionally considered uncommon in cases of blackleg in cattle until a 2018 study reported otherwise. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of cardiac disease among cattle that died of blackleg in Tennessee, USA. The outcome of this study would reinforce the importance of assessing cardiac lesions in suspected cases of blackleg in cattle. The University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center database searched for cattle with a confirmed diagnosis of blackleg necropsied between 2004 and 2018. Of the 120 necropsy reports, 37 had a diagnosis of blackleg. Histology slides of skeletal muscle (26/37) and the heart (26/37) were reviewed to confirm the presence of supportive lesions. Of the 37 cases of blackleg identified, 26 animals (70.3%) had cardiac lesions, including 4 (10.8%) that had only cardiac involvement without skeletal muscle lesions. Specifically, (5.4%; 2/37) had only necrotizing myocarditis; (13.5%; 5/37) had only fibrinous or fibrinosuppurative pericarditis, epicarditis, or endocarditis; (51.4%; 19/26) had a combination of myocarditis and pericarditis, epicarditis, or endocarditis; and (29.7%; 11/37) had no lesions. Furthermore, of the 26 cases with cardiac lesions, 24 cases had gross lesions, while 2 cases were identified only by microscopic examination. This indicates that gross examination alone is insufficient to identify cardiac involvement in blackleg cases in cattle. Contrary to traditional perceptions, cardiac lesions in cases of bovine blackleg could be as high as 70% and are most often associated with skeletal muscle lesions. The prevalence of cardiac lesions in cases of blackleg in cattle may be higher when the heart is examined microscopically than if it is only evaluated grossly. Pathologists should specifically evaluate the heart for lesions in suspected cases of blackleg in cattle and utilize microscopic examination when gross lesions are absent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:27:19Z |
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| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:27:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-96333d47ae6a4e6da3c4f8a1f325d01b2023-11-17T21:43:59ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812023-04-0110429710.3390/vetsci10040297Prevalence of Cardiac Lesions in Cases of Bovine Blackleg in Tennessee (USA), 2004–2018Chika C. Okafor0Francisco A. Uzal1Caitlin M. Culligan2Kim M. Newkirk3Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, USACalifornia Health and Food Safety Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, CA 92408, USADepartment of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, USADepartment of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, USABlackleg is a common cause of death in cattle, mostly caused by the bacterium <i>Clostridium chauvoei</i>. Cardiac lesions were traditionally considered uncommon in cases of blackleg in cattle until a 2018 study reported otherwise. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of cardiac disease among cattle that died of blackleg in Tennessee, USA. The outcome of this study would reinforce the importance of assessing cardiac lesions in suspected cases of blackleg in cattle. The University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center database searched for cattle with a confirmed diagnosis of blackleg necropsied between 2004 and 2018. Of the 120 necropsy reports, 37 had a diagnosis of blackleg. Histology slides of skeletal muscle (26/37) and the heart (26/37) were reviewed to confirm the presence of supportive lesions. Of the 37 cases of blackleg identified, 26 animals (70.3%) had cardiac lesions, including 4 (10.8%) that had only cardiac involvement without skeletal muscle lesions. Specifically, (5.4%; 2/37) had only necrotizing myocarditis; (13.5%; 5/37) had only fibrinous or fibrinosuppurative pericarditis, epicarditis, or endocarditis; (51.4%; 19/26) had a combination of myocarditis and pericarditis, epicarditis, or endocarditis; and (29.7%; 11/37) had no lesions. Furthermore, of the 26 cases with cardiac lesions, 24 cases had gross lesions, while 2 cases were identified only by microscopic examination. This indicates that gross examination alone is insufficient to identify cardiac involvement in blackleg cases in cattle. Contrary to traditional perceptions, cardiac lesions in cases of bovine blackleg could be as high as 70% and are most often associated with skeletal muscle lesions. The prevalence of cardiac lesions in cases of blackleg in cattle may be higher when the heart is examined microscopically than if it is only evaluated grossly. Pathologists should specifically evaluate the heart for lesions in suspected cases of blackleg in cattle and utilize microscopic examination when gross lesions are absent.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/10/4/297blacklegclostridial myositisbovine<i>Clostridium chauvoei</i>myocarditismyositis |
| spellingShingle | Chika C. Okafor Francisco A. Uzal Caitlin M. Culligan Kim M. Newkirk Prevalence of Cardiac Lesions in Cases of Bovine Blackleg in Tennessee (USA), 2004–2018 Veterinary Sciences blackleg clostridial myositis bovine <i>Clostridium chauvoei</i> myocarditis myositis |
| title | Prevalence of Cardiac Lesions in Cases of Bovine Blackleg in Tennessee (USA), 2004–2018 |
| title_full | Prevalence of Cardiac Lesions in Cases of Bovine Blackleg in Tennessee (USA), 2004–2018 |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Cardiac Lesions in Cases of Bovine Blackleg in Tennessee (USA), 2004–2018 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Cardiac Lesions in Cases of Bovine Blackleg in Tennessee (USA), 2004–2018 |
| title_short | Prevalence of Cardiac Lesions in Cases of Bovine Blackleg in Tennessee (USA), 2004–2018 |
| title_sort | prevalence of cardiac lesions in cases of bovine blackleg in tennessee usa 2004 2018 |
| topic | blackleg clostridial myositis bovine <i>Clostridium chauvoei</i> myocarditis myositis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/10/4/297 |
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