Facial eczema in a herd of Angus cattle

Authors: Schweizer A
Publication: Grazing Gazette, Volume Issue 65, pp 6-15, Jun 2024
Publisher: Sheep and Beef Cattle Veterinarians Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association

Animal type: Cattle, Cattle - beef
Article class: Case Study

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Abstract:

A herd of rising two-year-old Angus heifers and steers presented for doing poorly. Distance exam revealed ill thrift, hair loss, dull coats and watery diarrhoea among the seven presenting steers/heifers that were worst in the herd. No monitoring or sufficient preventative measures to combat sporidesmin toxicity were in place on the farm. Laboratory results showed mean serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels to be 879 IU/L. Following euthanasia on one heifer a post-mortem revealed extensive bands of fibrosis throughout the liver with proliferation of the biliary ductules. The history, presenting signs, post-mortem liver changes and diagnostic tests were consistent with previous sporidesmin toxicity.

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