Fatal post-parturient diarrhoea in a nursing cow transported to Akinyele International Cattle Market, Ibadan, Nigeria: A case report

Abstract

A pregnant cow of Kuri breed, estimated age of six years old with second calving was transported on land from Maiduguri, Borno state Nigeria. The journey took four days to the Akinyele International Cattle Market. The pregnant cow calved immediately on arrival at the market. A week after calving, the nursing cow was offered for sale and slaughter. The nursing cow and the calf were purchased and put under intensive medical and management care of an experienced cattle stockman in the market. The nursing cow became diarrheic on the second week of arrival at the market. Clinical examination by visual observation revealed projectile watery faeces, stained hindquarter and the pair rectal sterile swab samples were collected. Though the temperature and pulse rate were within the normal range. Standard bacteriological faecal culture of the rectal swab incubated overnight at 37⁰C in selenith F- broth, Nutrient and blood agars at 37⁰C for 24 hours were done, revealing heavy mixed growth of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species and Bacillus species. Identification of colonies were based on morphology, gram staining, cultural and biochemical characteristics. In-vitro Antibiotic sensitivity testing on discrete colonies of bacteria faeces were done, using agar- Disk diffusion method. The E. coli, Klebsiella and Bacillus species were sensitive to ciprofloxacin® (10μg) and pefloxacin® (30μg). Sulfanol® (sulphadimidin) a broad spectrum antibiotic was administered immediately intramuscularly at 333mg in 3ml per 10kg for four days. Defaecation of the nursing cow stopped for two days after treatment. On the third day of the treatment, the faeces became pasty but the cow died overnight despite the good response to therapy.