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False cowpox is a zoonotic infectious disease, the course of which is accompanied by symptoms of general intoxication and the appearance of single smallpox-like skin lesions on the body. It is common among people whose work involves caring for pets. However, today cases of infection are being recorded among those who are far from this field of activity. Therefore, the epidemiological significance of the infection is being reconsidered.

The causative agent of the disease is a large DNA virus belonging to the genus Othopoxvirus from the family Poxviridae. It is resistant to the external environment, lives for a year and a half at a temperature of +4 degrees, and can be preserved when frozen.

Despite the name, the main source of danger is forest and field mice. They infect cattle, drink water from their water troughs, and leave their excrement in the hay. Domestic cats are also carriers of the infection. Human infection occurs by contact, while milking cows, playing with pets. Any scratch from animal claws or bite can lead to infection. The virus penetrates through damaged areas of the skin. If a person does not have immunity to smallpox, he will become ill. Possible alimentary and aerogenic transmission routes.

Symptoms and signs of infection

The mechanisms of infection development have not yet been fully studied, and it is not yet clear how long it lasts incubation period. In children, the onset of the disease causes flu-like symptoms. They may complain of general malaise and weakness. In some cases there is slight increase body temperature. In adults there are no such manifestations.

After a certain time, inflammation develops at the place where the virus entered the human body. Cells infected with the virus begin to divide uncontrollably. As a result, dense papules are formed. After two days they turn into vesicles, which are no different in appearance from the vesicles that appear on the skin during development smallpox.

After three to four days, the vesicles open and the contents containing copies of the virus are poured out. In the absence proper care the infection spreads quickly, so it becomes possible appearance multiple secondary pustules on the forearm. In the acute course of the disease there can be from two to several dozen. The opened vesicles become covered with a crust, and underneath the skin becomes scarred, which is replaced by a dark-colored scar.

The sequence of stages of pustule formation is accompanied by severe pain. Intense hyperemia and swelling are observed in damaged areas of the skin. Similar symptoms persist until a protracted scar forms. Duration clinical manifestations is eight weeks. But there are cases when the course of cowpox in a person’s hands, in the absence of treatment, dragged on for up to twelve weeks or longer.

A thorough history and laboratory tests. During the examination, the doctor must ask the patient about professional activities. A specialist can assume a diagnosis if the disease occurs in the summer-autumn period and the patient’s occupation is related to caring for cattle and cats. The development of infection may be indicated by the presence of single painful elements of pustules, as well as dark-colored scars on the hands.

Laboratory tests can differentiate the course of cowpox in humans from anthrax, pyoderma, smallpox and paravaccine. To do this, the contents of the vesicles are studied under a microscope. The causative agent of cowpox can be detected by histological examination material obtained from the lesion.

Risk factors for the disease

As a rule, cowpox in humans is benign, but in patients with a history of immunodeficiency states, generalized forms of infection develop. They almost always end in death.

Cowpox can be transmitted from person to person, so it is better to isolate the patient in a separate room and provide him with separate dishes and personal hygiene items. Every day the room in which the patient is located, as well as all objects in it, must be disinfected. After recovery, it is better to burn bedding and underwear.

Treatment methods

Any viral infection assumes symptomatic treatment. To date, there is no effective antiviral therapy. The use of tableted "Acyclovir", as practice shows, is useless.

• 0.5% florenal;
• 3% oxolinic;
• 5% tebrofen.

Difficult to judge effectiveness local treatment, after a month or three, spontaneous recovery occurs. But experts note that treating pustules helps prevent the addition of a bacterial component.

If cowpox in a person is severe, he may be prescribed immunoglobulin, which contains protein compounds of the pathogen. During acute course infection, glucocorticoids are contraindicated.

Traditional treatment

Alternative treatment helps speed up the healing process. Doctors recommend:

1. Take baths. Take dried flowers in equal quantities (three tablespoons each) pharmaceutical chamomile, calendula and sage leaves, add a liter of water and boil for fifteen minutes over low heat.
2. Treat pustules with oil tea tree. The procedure will help relieve inflammation and itching.
3. Drink an infusion prepared from parsley roots (4 tsp per liter of boiling water). It will help cheer you up and speed up the healing of the rash. You need to drink 250 ml per day.
4. Rinse your mouth weak solution potassium permanganate.

A restrictive diet will help alleviate the condition. Vegetable soups are useful for the patient, fresh vegetables and fruits, low-fat dairy products, porridge and greens. Provoke deterioration general condition The patient is capable of drinking alcohol, fatty, spicy, salty foods, sour fruits, coffee, and fast food.

Preventive measures

Milking cows should involve persons vaccinated against smallpox. Workers must wear protective clothing before milking. Daily veterinary supervision is necessary.

Sick cows should be isolated from the herd. After contact with them, it is important to wash your hands with soap and treat them with any liquid antiseptic.

Purchased cattle must be kept in quarantine for a month. Owners of private farmsteads and large farmers must maintain the condition of barns and pastures in accordance with the requirements sanitary standards. If outbreaks of infection are recorded in the area where the farm is located, it is necessary to vaccinate the entire livestock using a live vaccine.

Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine

Kharkov State Veterinary Academy

Department of Epizootology and Veterinary Management

Abstract on the topic:

"Cowpox"

The work was prepared by:

3rd year student, 9th group of FVM

Bocherenko V.A.

Kharkov 2007

Plan

1. Definition of disease.

2. Historical background, distribution, degree of danger and damage.

3. The causative agent of the disease.

4. Epizootology.

5. Pathogenesis.

6. Course and clinical manifestation.

7. Pathological signs.

8. Diagnostics and differential diagnosis.

9. Immunity, specific prevention.

10. Prevention.

11. Treatment.

12. Control measures.

13. List of used literature

1. Definition of disease

Cowpox (Latin - Variolavaccina; English - Cowpox; vaccinia, vaccination) is a contagious disease characterized by intoxication of the body, fever and nodular-pustular rash on the skin and mucous membranes.

2. Historical background, distribution, degree of danger and damage

Cowpox was most often caused by the vaccinia virus, transmitted to dairy cows from milkmaids vaccinated with smallpox detritus. At the end of the 18th century. in England, where cowpox was widespread, the doctor E. Jenner drew attention to next fact: People who were easily ill as a result of cowpox infection became immune to human smallpox. Currently, thanks to the vaccination of people with the vaccinia vaccine, humanity has gotten rid of terrible disease- human smallpox.

In the 20th century Cowpox was diagnosed in India, in different countries Europe, Asia and the American continent. On the territory former USSR cowpox was registered in all republics. Currently, the Russian Federation is considered free from this disease.

3. The causative agent of the disease

Smallpox virus is a large DNA virus of the family Poxviridae, genus Orthopoxvirus. In cows, smallpox can be caused by both the vaccinia virus and the vaccinia virus (human variola virus). According to antigenic, immunological and morphological properties Both of these viruses are similar, but differ in a number of biological properties. Reproduction of viruses leads to the appearance of characteristic pathological changes in the chorion-allantoic membrane of chick embryos, and in cell culture - to pronounced CPP.

Cowpox and vaccinia viruses are found in epithelial cells and in scabs from affected areas of the skin of sick cows. When stained according to Paschen, Morozov or Romanovsky, the elementary bodies of viruses under microscopy look like round balls or dots.

Cowpox and vaccinia viruses are relatively stable in the external environment. At a temperature of 4 °C the virus persists for up to 1.5 years, at 20 °C for 6 months, and at 34 °C for up to 60 days. Freezing preserves viruses. In decaying tissue they quickly die. From chemicals the most effective are 2.5...5% solutions of sulfuric, hydrochloric and carbolic acids, 1...4% solutions of chloramine and 5% solution of potassium permanganate.

4. Epizootology

Cattle of all ages, horses, pigs, camels, donkeys, monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, as well as man. The source of the pathogen is sick animals and humans. The virus is released into the external environment through discharge from the nasal and oral cavities, as well as as part of exudate, sloughing epithelium of the skin (pockmarks), eyes of sick animals and virus carriers. Service personnel may be involved in the transmission of the pathogen during the period of vaccination and revaccination with smallpox detritus if the rules of personal hygiene, as well as animal care items and feed are not followed.

The main ways of infecting cows with smallpox are contact, aerogenic and nutritional. Virus transmission possible blood-sucking insects, in whose body it can persist for more than 100 days. Mice and rats can also be carriers of the pathogen.

Cowpox usually occurs sporadically, but can become epizootic. The incidence is usually low (up to 5...7%), fatal outcome not observed. Seasonality and frequency of epizootic outbreaks are uncharacteristic.

5. Pathogenesis

Smallpox viruses can enter the body of animals through the skin of the udder and the mucous membrane of the oral and nasal cavities. Development infectious process depends on the routes of entry and virulence of the pathogen. At the site of virus inoculation, specific inflammation occurs as a result of its interaction with epithelial cells. Epidermal cells swell, proliferate, and in some of them specific inclusions appear - Guarnieri bodies, which are considered as colonies of the pathogen, surrounded by metabolic products of the affected cell. Dystrophic and necrotic changes fabrics, vascular disorders, cell proliferation and infiltration of the connective tissue of the dermis lead to the formation of pockmarks. In papules the virus is found in the form pure culture. Through dilated capillaries and lymphatic slits, the virus enters the blood, viremia develops, accompanied by an increase in body temperature and depression.

6. Course and clinical manifestation

The incubation period of the disease usually lasts 3...9 days. During the prodromal period, animals experience fever, an increase in body temperature to 40...41 ° C, lethargy, poor appetite, decrease in milk yield. The disease usually occurs acutely and subacutely, less often - chronically. Bulls often have a latent course of smallpox.

In sick cows, red spots appear on the slightly swollen skin of the udder and nipples, and sometimes on the head, neck, back and thighs, and in bulls, red spots appear on the scrotum - roseola, which soon (after 12...24 hours) turn into dense, raised nodules - papules . After 1...2 days, vesicles are formed from the papules, which are bubbles filled with transparent lymph containing viruses. The vesicles suppurate and turn into round or oblong pustules with a reddish rim and a depression in the center.

With the disease caused by the cowpox virus, deeper tissue necrosis is noted than from the vaccinia virus, and the pockmarks appear relatively flat. As a result of hemorrhage, the pockmarks acquire a bluish-black color. Nodules located close to each other merge, and cracks appear on their surface.

Sick cows show anxiety, do not allow milkmaids to approach them, and stand with their limbs spread wide apart. The udder becomes hard and milk production decreases. 10...12 days after the onset of the disease, brownish crusts (scabs) form in place of the pustules. The pockmarks appear gradually, over several days, and do not mature simultaneously, but in about 14...16 days. In calves, pockmarks usually appear in the head area, on the mucous membrane of the lips, mouth and nose. The disease lasts 14...20 days and can be accompanied by bright pronounced signs generalization with the formation of ulcers.

7. Pathological signs

Depending on the stage of development of the smallpox process, you can find papules, vesicles and pustules covered with brown crusts, and sometimes next to the pockmarks - boils, abscesses and phlegmons. Epithelium of the mucous membrane oral cavity is rejected, resulting in the formation of erosions and ulcers with a diameter of up to 15 mm. Regional lymph nodes slightly enlarged, their capsule is tense, the vessels are full of blood. Histological examination reveals intraplasmic inclusions of the Guarnieri body type in the epithelial cells of the epidermis.

8. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis

The diagnosis is made on the basis of epizootiological, epidemiological data, clinical signs and laboratory test results. Cowpox is characterized by sporadic manifestations, localization of pockmarks that form in stages on the skin of the udder, coincidence in time of the disease of cows, people and immunization of the population against smallpox.

To the laboratory for virological research direct the contents of papules or developing vesicles. The material is cultured in developing chick embryos or cell cultures, and the pathogen is isolated and identified. For histological studies, prepare a thin smear from the surface of the cut papule, air-dry it and stain it according to Morozov. The detection of elementary bodies in stained preparations has diagnostic value, and their absence does not serve as a basis for excluding smallpox. In this case, rabbits are injected into the cornea with the test material (Paul test). Histological examination of the affected areas of the cornea reveals Guarnieri inclusion bodies. As a rapid diagnosis, RDP is used on a glass slide using the contents of smallpox rash and immune anti-vaccination rabbit serum.

The detection of elementary virus particles in pockmarks and Guarnieri bodies in the affected areas of the cornea of ​​experimentally infected rabbits confirms the diagnosis of cowpox.

At differential diagnosis it is necessary to exclude foot and mouth disease and paravaccine.

9. Immunity, specific prevention

Post-infectious immunity in smallpox is tissue-humoral and lasts for life. For specific prevention Live vaccinia virus is used.

10. Prevention

To prevent the occurrence of smallpox, the introduction (import) into farms of large cattle, as well as feed and equipment from farms affected by cowpox. Animals coming from safe farms are quarantined and subjected to clinical examination. Livestock buildings, pastures, and watering areas are constantly maintained in proper veterinary and sanitary condition. Farm workers immunized against smallpox are exempt from working on livestock farms for a period of 2 weeks, subject to normal course vaccination reaction and before full recovery when complications occur.

Cowpox- an acute contagious disease caused by viruses, characterized by the formation of specific nodules, vesicles and pustules called pockmarks. The latter develop in stages, are localized mainly in the skin of the udder and teats of cows, and when the disease generalizes, on other parts of the body.

Etiology.
The causative agents are cowpox virus and vaccinia virus, which have morphological similarities but differ in biological properties. These viruses are classified as orthopoxviruses; they are detected by staining preparations according to Paschen, Morozov, Romanovsky, as well as by electron microscopy. Pathogenic for horses, camels, pigs, rabbits, chicken embryos, humans. During the eradication of human smallpox in connection with the use of vaccinia vaccine for immunization of people, enzootics caused by the vaccinia virus were often observed. After the eradication of human smallpox from the world in 1979, vaccination was stopped. Accordingly, cases of cowpox have decreased, but they are still periodically recorded on some farms. The reasons for their occurrence and the sources of preservation of cowpox pathogens in nature require further study.

Pathogenesis. Viruses enter the body through aerogenic and nutritional routes, through contact of sick animals with healthy ones, as well as through contaminated objects. Viruses are inactive outside the cell. Viruses that penetrate epithelial cells undergo deproteinization by cellular enzymes. The nucleoproteins and nucleic acids released during this process overcome the enzymatic activity of the cells, after which the reproduction of smallpox viruses begins in the epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes. In areas where viruses are located, it develops focal inflammation. In the skin and mucous membranes, changes characteristic of smallpox occur: first, focal redness appears - roseola, from which, after 1-3 days, dense, raised nodules - papules - form. The latter turn into vesicles and pustules. Smallpox viruses from the primary focus spread to surrounding tissues. From the skin and mucous membrane of the organ, viruses penetrate into regional lymph nodes, into the blood and internal organs. The period of viremia is usually short-term, characterized by fever, depression, changes in the blood and hematopoietic organs.

In the body of a susceptible animal, viruses, being antigens, stimulate immunological reactions. Anti-smallpox antibodies are produced in the spleen and lymph nodes. At the same time, in the lymph nodes regional to the areas of pockmark formation, proliferation of lymphoblasts that have antigenic information occurs and their transformation into plasma cells. Accordingly, during the body’s immune response, the number of plasmablasts, immature and mature plasma cells that produce specific anti-smallpox antibodies, increases in the lymph nodes and spleen. Lymph nodes increase in volume, become juicy and reddened.

Play an important role in smallpox cellular factors protection - macrophages and T-lymphocytes. Latest reactions cellular immunity transform into immunoblasts and immune lymphocytes, which have a cytopathogenic effect and the property of destroying foreign antigens without the participation of antibodies. T lymphocytes act in conjunction with blood monocytes and macrophages. In addition, T lymphocytes secrete factors that stimulate cell proliferation and activate phagocytosis of macrophages.

In freeing the body from smallpox viruses, the role of macrophages of the reticulohistiocytic system is significant. It has been established that in the macrophages of non-immune animals, smallpox viruses multiply and cause the destruction of phagocytes, while in the cells of immune animals they do not multiply and disappear from the body relatively quickly. This is explained by the fact that in the macrophages of immune animals, smallpox viruses are neutralized, that is, complete phagocytosis occurs. However, the antiviral activity of micro- and macrophages is expressed differently. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils of immune animals do not destroy vaccinia viruses; only monocytes and lymphocytes have this property.

Some adult cattle have a fairly pronounced protective cellular reaction and, in the absence of predisposing factors, transfer smallpox to mild form. In this case, a small number of papules are formed. The epithelium in the latter is exposed to partial necrosis and hyperkeratosis under the influence of the virus, and soon dries out, forming a crust. The papule decreases in volume, the scab disappears, the infiltrate resolves, and the skin structure is quickly restored.

Metabolic and feeding hygiene disorders, influence of others harmful factors external environment reduce activity cellular elements, including the glue of immune protection, in connection with this, the disease of smallpox occurs in a severe form. Smallpox is also severely tolerated by calves whose immune defense organs at birth do not reach functional and morphological maturity.

The smallpox process can be complicated by secondary bacterial processes, which often cause the development of mastitis in sick cows; gastroenteritis, bronchopneumonia - in calves.

Clinical signs.
In sick cows, smallpox nodules appear in the skin of the udder and teats, sometimes in the head, neck, back and thighs. In bulls, a latent course is more often noted. In them, pockmarks form in the skin of the scrotum. Calves become infected through milk, and smallpox nodules often form in the mucous membrane of the mouth and near the edges of the lips. Sick cows show anxiety and do not allow staff to approach them. They stand with their limbs spread wide apart. When walking, put your feet to the side. The udder becomes painful, hard, milk production decreases, and the quality of milk deteriorates. In a severe generalized form of the disease with the formation of numerous pockmarks throughout the body, an increase in body temperature to 40-41 ° C, lethargy, and loss of appetite are noted. When milking, contact with bedding and other objects, the pockmarks are damaged, and bleeding wounds and scabs form in their place.

Pathological changes. IN skin smallpox lesions are detected. They are localized mainly on the udder and nipples, but often also in the head, neck, lateral surfaces of the body, chest, thighs, etc. The nodules that form are initially small, red or pink color, dense. Increasing in volume, they rise above the surrounding surface of the skin by 2-4 mm. Central part papules are covered with a thin gray crust, tightly attached to the skin. The incision shows that the scab is well demarcated from the underlying tissues. The cut surface is moist, and when pressed, a little cloudy gray-yellowish or greenish exudate is released. Papules located at close distances merge. In these cases pathological process spread over a large area where the skin is covered with massive, cracked scabs. The hair protruding from the depths of the crusts is stuck together and tousled. When removing the scab, a reddened, uneven surface of the skin is exposed, covered thin layer gray-greenish or gray-reddish cloudy sticky exudate. The hair is removed along with the scab. The epidermis under the scab is preserved in the marginal areas, and in the center of the nodules is separated along with the crust. Papules turn into vesicles and pustules. Vesicles are vesicles containing slightly cloudy serous exudate containing smallpox pathogens. Leukocyte emigration and formation large quantity purulent bodies in the cavity of the vesicle is accompanied by the transformation of the vesicle into a pustule. The cavity of the latter contains purulent exudate. The pustule is surrounded by a red rim and has a depression in its center.

In the disease caused by the cowpox virus, deeper tissue necrosis occurs. The pockmarks look flat and, as a result of hemorrhages and hemorrhagic infiltration, have a reddish-bluish color, turning into bluish-black. Nodules located close to each other merge, and cracks form on their surface. Dermis and subcutaneous tissue under such pockmarks they are infiltrated and dense to the touch. Next to the pockmarks there may be boils, abscesses, and phlegmon.

In sick calves, nodules and ulcers with slightly raised edges are found in the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx. The lymph nodes regional to the sites of pockmark formation (supraduminal, submandibular, retropharyngeal, cervical, prescapular) are enlarged, reddened, shiny, juicy when cut, the surrounding tissue is swollen.

Pathohistological changes. Typical changes in smallpox develop in the skin. At the roseola stage, hyperemia, moderate lymphoid-histiocytic infiltration in non-rivascular zones of the dermis, emigration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, and swelling of epithelial cells of the epidermis are noted. The intensification of these processes leads to the formation of a nodule (papule) in place of roseola. It reveals swelling and proliferation of epithelial cells, as a result of which the epidermis is thickened, the number of rows of cells in it is increased, finger-shaped, tree-like and flat outgrowths appear, embedded in the dermis (acanthosis). In epidermocytes, cytoplasmic inclusions - Guarnieri bodies - are oval, round, crescent-shaped. When stained according to Romanovsky - Giemsa, as well as under electron microscope cowpox virions are detected in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. The stratum corneum is massive, loose, some epidermocytes become keratinized while maintaining an elongated nucleus.

In the epidermis, individual epithelial cells and groups of cells are in a state of vacuolization. The latter are increased in volume, the cytoplasm is transparent, the nucleus is pyknotic and moved to the periphery. Vacuolization is replaced by reticulating degeneration. In such areas, the contours of the shell of epithelial cells are visible, the nucleus weakly perceives paints, or is lysed. Cell membranes under the influence of accumulating clear liquid stretch out and create a kind of mesh structure in a cavity arising in the thickness of the epidermis. Between the epithelial cells there are many polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes. In the dermis, the exudative reaction is expressed in the form of hyperemia, stasis, increased vascular permeability, release of blood plasma from the vessels, and emigration of leukocytes. The collagen fibers in the subepidermal zone are swollen, separated from each other, between them there are plasma fluid, neutrophilic leukocytes, and macrophages. Epithelial vaginas hair follicles thickened, many cells are in a state of vacuolar degeneration. The lumens of some follicles are expanded, in them different quantity purulent bodies. There are no hair shafts.

At the pustule stage, the epithelium and underlying connective tissue undergo necrosis as a result toxic effects smallpox viruses and accompanying microflora, as well as enzymatic activity leukocytes. Thus, pustules are purulent necrotizing pockmarks. On top they are covered with a crust formed as a result of hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis of the epidermis, sweating of exudate, necrosis of the cellular elements of the epidermis.

With smallpox caused by the true cowpox virus, necrosis of the epidermis is more pronounced, and the latter is absent in a significant area. The dermis is bare, infiltrated with erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and lymphocytes. Vessels of all sizes are sharply dilated and overflowing with blood.

The diagnosis is made based on the results of clinical, pathomorphological and laboratory research taking into account epidemiological data. Detection of cytoplasmic inclusions - Guarnieri bodies and elementary viral particles from papules with characteristic pathomorphological changes in the skin is the basis for establishing smallpox. Imprint preparations are stained according to Morozov or Romanovsky-Giemsa. Virus particles are black or blue-violet in color, o round shape, are located in groups or in the form of large clusters.

Paravaccine should also be differentiated from smallpox. Foot and mouth disease is characterized by the formation of aphthae on the mucous membrane of the tongue, gums, cheeks, vestibule of the mouth, and skin of the fingers. Unlike smallpox, it is slow and benign.

Today, smallpox in cows on the udder is quite rare disease and almost never occurs in practice. However, every livestock breeder needs to know about the disease. The theory will allow timely action to be taken and assistance in treatment, will help prevent further spread of the disease, and will serve as an opportunity to protect the animal from infection.

Causes

Smallpox refers to infectious diseases. The most common causative agent is the vaccinia virus.

Among the peddlers are:

• rats;
• mice;
• mosquitoes;
• insects belonging to blood-sucking species.

The appearance of microtraumas, abrasions and cracks on the udder in to a large extent increase the risk of contracting smallpox. It is common for the virus to enter through the mucous membrane of the mouth or nostrils. The risk group includes cattle with weak immune system suffering from a disorder metabolic processes, as well as for vitamin deficiency, and on time recovery periods after various diseases or calving.

The virus poses the greatest danger to young animals who have not fully developed immunity and whose body is not strong enough to resist smallpox.

The cause of most diseases, which include cowpox, is improper keeping of livestock. Animals must be provided with dry, clean and spacious premises. Feeding is carried out according to the schedule and only with feed of proper quality. When doing these simple rules The risk of smallpox, as well as its possible spread, is significantly reduced.

The main causes of the virus in cattle include the following:

1. The correct one is not observed temperature regime in animal premises. Special requirements presented to the barn, all cracks, holes and other mechanical damage. At constant cold and in drafts, cows get sick much more often, and at the same time their natural immunity. Not enough high temperature causes animals to huddle together, causing smallpox to spread to the entire herd.
2. Presence of dirt and dampness. Special attention bedding in the room must be given. Any material used must be dry and clean. With high humidity and dirt infectious diseases can't be avoided.
3. Operation of the ventilation system. The barn must be thoroughly ventilated so that the air does not stagnate, this will significantly reduce the number of harmful microorganisms.
4. There are no walking areas. Thanks to daily exercise, the natural defenses of the animal’s body are strengthened, and its resistance to various diseases is increased.
5. Poor diet. Feed is purchased of appropriate quality and in required quantity. They should contain vitamins, especially during the winter months. This moment occurs during the stall period, when the risks of infection increase significantly.

Symptoms with photos

Initially, smallpox affects general health animal, which is characterized by refusal of feed, sluggish, inactive behavior. Most often, pockmarks appear on the udder, representing round bubbles that have clear contours with a clearly visible central part.

If the nipples are swollen and black growths appear on them with marks from hemorrhages in the center, smallpox can be safely diagnosed. After a couple of days, several lesions will merge into one black-blue color. It will begin to crack and crust over, causing even more to appear. pain syndrome which will disturb the animal. In this regard, appetite decreases and, accordingly, weight. It is not possible to determine the weight of a sick animal using standard methods.

Smallpox causes serious injury to the udder and teats and is also the cause severe pain. The cows begin to suffer from hyperthermia and fever. The animal takes a position capable of slightly relieving pain (widely spaced back of the limb). It is now very difficult for the cow to move around as usual. This can be attributed to another manifestation of the virus, by which the disease is determined.

How is the disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis is possible based on symptomatic data. Important role is devoted to the autopsy of an already dead animal, the results of tests obtained in the laboratory, which are taken from sick livestock.

In case of mild symptoms, when it is impossible to say with certainty what is happening to the animal, a biological test according to Paul is carried out on rabbits kept in the laboratory. Analysis is done as follows: The experimental animal is immobilized with anesthesia, then the veterinarian makes a small incision into the cornea and applies a suspension that is prepared using material from a sick cow. If the cause lies in the vaccinia virus, then after a couple of days the incised area of ​​the eye will become covered with characteristic spots and dots. They can be seen without special instruments.

Smallpox in cows on the udder: treatment

Treat the udder and nipples comprehensive measures, namely:

• give the animal antibacterial drugs, playing a major role in treatment;
• after the ulcers disappear, antiseptics and healing ointments are used to treat the nipples;
• Boric acid is used to treat the nasal cavity and nostrils.

If treatment is not started in a timely manner, mastitis can develop - the udder swells and hardens, which significantly complicates milking, and this, in turn, causes even more discomfort to the animal.

Preventive measures

For large farms with large herds, certain aspects must be observed:

• when purchasing new livestock, the welfare of the farm (where the animals come from) is checked for smallpox infection;
• It is mandatory to keep new arrivals in 30-day quarantine;
• the milking operator monitors the cleanliness of the udder, and the livestock specialist must ensure that pastures are treated with special solutions that destroy viruses and infections;
• enterprise personnel undergo mandatory vaccination;
• in the absence of vaccinations, the worker should not be allowed to visit the livestock for 14-21 days;
• if smallpox is suspected, the entire herd undergoes preventive vaccination;
• It is necessary to clean and disinfect all inventory items used in working with animals at least once every 7 days, and preferably more often.