March 25, 2024

 

Texas, US veterinary lab warns respiratory cases in cattle following wildfires

 

 

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory is alerting livestock owners in Texas, the United States, to monitor surviving livestock for respiratory issues following recent wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.

 

Alexis Thompson, DVM, PhD, DACVPM, veterinary diagnostician at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in Canyon, Texas, said the diagnostic lab expects to see an uptick in samples from livestock that were near the flames or smoke from the wildfires.

 

"Those on the ground are now reporting respiratory signs such as heavy breathing and wet coughs from cattle," Thompson said. "Smoke has a high concentration of fine particulate matter, which can lead to respiratory irritation in animals, as well as humans.

 

"I suspect in the coming weeks, we will have a lot of people asking questions on infectious causes of bovine respiratory disease. There will be a lot of secondary bacterial infections in cattle's lungs because of damage from smoke inhalation, which can also spread throughout the body and lead to lethargy, weakness and an elevated temperature."

 

The warm to hot air from wildfires can lead to damage in the respiratory tract as well, Thompson said. The combination of these factors can damage the integrity of the respiratory lining and lead to fluid in the lungs, also known as pulmonary edema.

 

Cattle with pulmonary edema can have an increased respiratory rate and effort. Some may have wet coughs and serous discharge from their nose that ranges from clear to yellow to light pink.

 

Thompson said antimicrobials will not help with the initial damage but may help prevent secondary bacterial infections. However, she expects the secondary wave of mortalities will likely stem from this.

 

"Unlike in human medicine, our medical interventions for cattle with smoke inhalation are limited, and euthanasia may be the best option for many of them," she said.

 

"Our poultry can get inflammation in their air sacks and lungs, which can result in coughing and difficult breathing," Thompson added. "Respiratory disease in poultry is also a sign of avian influenza, which is a prevailing issue in the US. It is strongly recommended that poultry with respiratory signs be tested for avian influenza from a public health standpoint."

 

According to a Beef Quality Assurance publication based on a study of the California fires, indirect losses were primarily associated with smoke inhalation and included cases of pneumonia and reproductive losses, such as reduced conception, low birthweight, rare abortions, poor weight gain and drops in milk production.

- Agrilife Today