Anthrax &

Ruminal
Tymphany
Ramelle A. Gregorio
Chelzea Dianne JImenez
DVM6-1
 SYNONYMS
Anthrax Ruminal Tymphany

Malignant Pustule Bloat

Malignant Edema Pasture bloat

Woolsorters’ Disease Feedlot bloat

Ragpickers’ Disease Aphara

Maladi Charbon
Splenic Fever
Siberian Ulcer
Milzbrand
 ETIOLOGY
Anthrax
Bacillus anthracis

Large, gram-positive, non-motile

rod
Aerobic

Spore forming

Two forms
 Vegetative
 Spore

Over 1,200 strains

Nearly worldwide distribution

 Etiology
• Sporulation requires:
• Poor nutrient conditions
• Presence of oxygen
• Spores
• Very resistant
• Survive for decades
• Taken up by host and
germinate
• Lethal dose 2,500 to 55,000
spores

Ruminal Typmhany
caused by entrapment of the normal
gases of fermentation in a stable foam
Happens due to inhibition of coalescences of
small gas bubbles
primary foaming agents are soluble leaf
proteins, saponins, and hemicellulose
Occurs when pasture contains alfalfa or
clover
when animals feed high amount of grains
and when bacteria in their produces
insoluble slime that produces stable foam
Etiology
Secondary bloat/ free gas bloat
Due to physical obstruction of
eructation by:
• esophageal obstruction due to foreign
body
• pressure from enlargement outside of the
esophagus
• Interference with esophageal groove
function in vagal indigestion and
diaphragmatic hernia
• intrusion in the nerve pathways that
involved the eructation reflex
lesions in the wall of reticulum may interrupt
the escape of gas from the rumen
secondary to acute on set of ruminal atony
that occurs in anaphylaxis and in grain
overload
 ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE/
DISTRIBUTION
Anthrax
It is distributed globally
and remains enzootic in
many regions of
The world, particularly sub-
Saharan Africa,
Asia and Central and
South America
The overall disease burden
and economic impact
20,000 to 100,000 cases estimated globally/year
of anthrax in livestock is not http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/whocc/mp_world.htm

fully known;
however, epizootics occur
every year, resulting in the
deaths of hundreds to
thousands of animals.
 ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE/
DISTRIBUTION
Ruminal Tymphany
highest when the pastures are lush, young and growing
 TRANSMISSION
Anthrax Ruminal Tymphany
Human Animals • ingestion of legumes particularly alfalfa,
ladino, and red and white clovers, rape,
kale, turnips and legume vegetable crops

• if the forage composition has high

Cutaneous Ingestion protein, water and soluble sugars but low
• Contact with • Most common
infected Herbivores in fiber
tissues, wool, hide, soil  Contaminate
• Biting flies d soil • through ingestion of finely ground grain,
 Heavy or in grazing rapidly growing succulent
rainfall, ryegrass
drought
Carnivores
 Contaminate • decrease in the production of saliva can
d meat also lead to bloat,

Inhalational Inhalation • some diseases like Actinomyces bovis

• Tanning hides,
processing wool
or bone
Gastrointestinal
• Undercooked meat
which causes lesions and tumors in the
esophageal groove or wall of the
reticulum
• if the forage composition has high
Mechanical protein, water and soluble sugars but low
(insects) in fiber
• decrease in the production of saliva can
also lead to bloat
 CLINICAL SIGNS
Anthrax Many species affected
Peracute: Acute:  Ruminants at greatest risk
Three forms
• Sudden death • Fever
• Peracute
• Staggering • Excitement
 Ruminants (cattle,
• Trembling • Depression sheep, goats)
• Dyspnea • Stupor • Acute
• Rapid collapse • Disorientation  Ruminants; equine
• Terminal • Muscle tremors • Subacute-chronic
convulsions • Dyspnea  Swine, dogs, cats
• Death • Congested
mucous
membranes Pregnant cows
• Bloody Abort and milk prod’n
discharge: can drop severely
nose, mouth Subcutaneous
and anus edematousswelling
(ventral neck, thorax
and shoulders)
 CLINICAL SIGNS
Ruminant
Peracute
 Sudden death
Acute (2 days)
 Tremors, dyspnea
 Bloody discharge from
body orifices
Chronic (rare)
 Pharyngeal and lingual
edema
 Death from asphyxiation
 CLINICAL SIGNS
Ruminal Tymphany
• Sudden death • Secondary bloat
• Primary pasture bloat • tympanic resonance over the
• Enlarged abdomen dorsal abdomen left of the
• left flank is so distended that midline
the outline of the paralumbar
fossa projects above the • higher pitched ping on
vertebral column percussion
• Skin on left flank is stretched • distension of the rumen can
and in severe cases cant be
tented be felt through rectal
• Dyspnea and grunting with palpation.
mouth breathing
• Proturusion of tongue
• Extension of head
• Frequent urination

Anthrax
Bloody discharges (Dark, thick,
unclottedblood)
Submandibular edemawith oozing blood from
the cut surface
Edematous blood-tinged effusions (SC tissues)
Rigor mortis is usually absent or incomplete
Petechiae and ecchymoses(lymph nodes;
serosal surfaces of the abdomen, thorax,
epicardium and endocardium)
Peritonitis and excessive peritoneal fluid
Swollen and congested lymph nodes, liver,
kidneys and spleen (blackberry consistency)
Meningitis
GROSS LESION
Ruminal Tymphany
congestion and hemorrhages in the cranial
thorax, neck and head
Obstructive ingesta bolus in esophagus
compression of the lungs, and there is presence
of intrabronchial hemorrhages
Severe congestion of trachea
Pale liver
cervical esophagus is congested and
hemorrhagic, but the thoracic portion is pale
and blanched
sawhorse posture
Frothy contents of rumen
 GROSS LESION
Anthrax
 GROSS LESION
Ruminal Tymphany
 HISTOPATH LESION

Anthrax
• Necrosis
• Exudative
inflammation with
neutrophil
• Macrophage
infiltrations
 DIAGNOSIS
Anthrax Ruminal Tymphany
Identification of the agent • Diagnosis of primary or frothy
Bacterial culture and isolation bloat is through clinical signs while
Blood smear using Polychrome
methyleneblue (M’Fadyean’sreaction)
secondary bloat should be
Capsule visualization ascertained to determine the
cause of failure of eructation.
Ascoli Test • Through presence of alfalfa in
grazing areas
Immunofluorescence • Feeding of fine size particles
Western blot
ELISA
PCR
Hypersensitivity Test (AnthraxinTM–
Europe)
 DIFFERENTIAL
DIAGNOSIS
Anthrax Ruminal Tympany
Sudden Death Acute Death Anthrax

• Clostridial  Blackleg Peritonitis

infections  Botulism
• Bloat  Poisoning
• Lightning strike Advanced pregnancy
 Plants,
• Acute
leptospirosis heavy
metal, Left or right abomasal
• Bacillary
snake bite displacement
hemoglubinuria
• Anaplasmosis  Lightning strike
• Swine erysipelas  Peracute Vagal indigestion
• Hemorrhagic babesiosis
fever
Ascites

Pneumopreitoneum
 TREATMENT
Anthrax Ruminal Tymphany
 Penicillin and oxytetracycline Emergency rumenotomy in life threatening
situation
 Most effective antibiotic against anthrax

 Oxytetracycline Trocar and cannula

 given daily in divided dose

 Penicillin Stomach tube

 Drug of choice
 Most natural strains susceptible

 Ciprofloxacin Antifoaming agents like vegetable oils and

mineral oils at 250-500 ml
 Treatment of choice in 2001
 400 mg intravenously every 12 hours
 No strains known to be resistant
 Course of treatment -60 days

 Doxycycline Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate

Poloxalene 25-50g
 100 mg intravenously every 12 hours
 PREVENTION AND
CONTROL
Anthrax Ruminal Tymphany
• Modified live vaccines feeding hay, particularly orchard
 Sterne-strain vaccine used grass before turning cattle on
universally for livestock pasture

• Quarantines continuous administration of an

antifoaming agent during the risk
period

• Scavengers should be prevented using strip grazing to restrict intake

from accessing the carcass

• Use of insect repellent

• Effective carcass disposal
• Incineration –most effective
disposal method
• Deep burial (6ft. below)
CASE SIMULATION
 Mr. Santos an owner of a cattle farm was alarmed
one day when he visited the pasture area and saw that
a lot of his animals were suddenly dying due to unknown
reasons, because of this he immediately contacted Dr.
Dimapuno. When the vet arrive it immediately
proceeded in the pasture area where the animals are,
he examined the dead body and he observe that the
animal died in a saw horse stance and notice that the
animal is bloated. He also observe that there is lingual
edema present and evidence of blood seen in nostrils.
Upon necropsy, congested liver, kidneys and spleen are
seen and excessive peritoneal fluid.
QUESTIONS:
1. Tentative diagnosis
2. Support the tentative diagnosis
3. Confirmatory test
4. Treatment
5. Control and prevention
 REFERENCES
• World Health Organization.2008. Anthrax in Human and
Animals. (on-line August 2019)
https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/anthra
x_webs.pdf
• The Merck Veterinary Manual.2016. Anthrax. 11th
Edition.Merck & Co., INC. Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Pp. 593-
597