IndianJournals.com Bacteriological and Pathological

Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology Vol. 20, No. 1, January-June, 2018: 52-55 DOI: 10.5958/0973-9149.2018.00008.4

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Case Report

Bacteriological and Pathological Study of a Case of Navel Ill and Its Complications G. Kashyap1*, J.A. Dar1, Z.A. War1, D. Gupta2, N. Sahu3, S. Singh1, B. Kamdi1, V. Singh4 and S.K. Rai5

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Ph.D. Scholar, 4Scientist, Division of Pathology, 2Ph.D. Scholar, Division of Physiology and Climatology, ICARIndian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India 3 Teaching Associate, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, India 5 Project Associate, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India *Corresponding author email id: [email protected]

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Submission: 7-9-2017; Revision: 25-11-2017; Acceptance: 10-10-2017

ABSTRACT Kashyap G, Dar JA, War ZA, Gupta D, Sahu N, Singh S, Kamdi B, Singh V and Rai SK (2018). Bacteriological and pathological study of a case of navel Ill and Its complications. J. Immunol. Immunopathol. 20(1): 52-55. Omphalophlebitis, generally referred to as navel ill, is a common post-mortem finding in young calves. Five cases of navel ill complicated with joint ill and neonatal septicemia presented for necropsy with the history of fever, lameness and anorexia. Materials and Methods: Tissue samples were collected for histopathology and synovial fluid, heart blood and umbilical pus were collected for bacteriological evaluation. Results: Grossly, suppurative changes were seen in the umbilical vessels and other tissue sites (joints, lung) and haemorrhages seen in various organs. Histologically, lung section showed focal necrotic areas surrounded by bacterial colony. Despite the wide range of bacteria isolated from umbilical lesions, Streptococcus spp., Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli, recovered from the navel, synovial fluid and lung tissue. Conclusion: On basis of clinical and pathological findings, case was diagnosed as navel ill. Keywords: Calf, Case, Joint ill, Navel ill, Pathological and bacteriological examination

Navel ill or joint ill, a condition of inflammation due to infection of the umbilicus and its associated structures, is a disease of young calves, usually less than 1 week of age. The navel ill is mainly associated with poor hygienic condition of parturition pen, inadequate colostrum and lack of immediate navel antisepsis after parturition (Mee, 2008; Waltner-Toews et al., 1986). Joint ill, also known as arthritis, is one of the significant causes of lameness in different farm animals. It is mostly found in cattle calves, buffalo calves, foals, lambs, kids and piglets and others (Chakrabarti, 2003). The navel infection also acts as source of infection, leading to septicaemia (Radostits et al., 2007). It occurs as a result of infection entering

via the umbilical cord and is mostly seen in neonatal farm animals and commonly in calves delivered in dirty environments (Radostits et al., 2007). The infection is manifested usually as combination of omphalitis, omphalophlebitis, omphaloarteritis or infection of the urachus (Scott et al., 2011) which usually occurs as a mixed bacterial infection, followed by localisation of infection occurring in the joints (joint ill), bones, meninges, eyes, endocardium and end arteries of the feet, ears and tail (Naik et al., 2011). Navel infection may remain localised to the navel but can also lead to peritonitis and in more severe cases to septicaemia. The clinical signs usually are enlargement of the umbilicus with purulent 52

Bacteriological and Pathological Study of a Case of Navel Ill and Its Complications




material, chronic toxaemia and unthriftiness (Radostits et al., 2007). The umbilicus is typically hot, painful and moist. The calf is dull and reluctant to suck and may stand with an arched back. In older calves, the umbilical infection may be limited to an abscess at the navel. In the present report, five female calves of Vrindavani breed, approximately 1 month age were brought to the Division of Pathology, IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly (UP) for systematic necropsy examination. The calves had history of anorexia, fever and lameness. The external examination of the animals revealed swollen navel region with dark necrosed tissue within the navel opening and noticeable presence of foul smell (Figure 1). The joints of the forelimbs as well as hind limbs were swollen, particularly the right carpal joint being more prominent. Rigor mortis had passed, condition of carcass was good and visible mucous membranes were slightly congested.

Figure 2: Lung having cranioventral site necrosed

Figure 3: Trichobenzors in rumen

Figure 1: A calf presented for necropsy having omphalitis and arthritis

Grossly, cranioventral portion of lungs was consolidated and dark in colour (Figure 2) with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes and on cutting irregular abscesses were found. Mild enlargement was seen in spleen and liver with distended gall bladder. In kidneys, gelatinisation was observed with slight congestion. The pericardium and intestines were also congested. The rumen was filled with 10–15 trichobezoars approx 10 cm in diameter (Figure 3), and intestines were gas filled and mucous membranes were slightly congested. Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology

The tissue samples were collected from all visceral organs in 10% neutral buffer formalin for histopathology. Heart blood and synovial fluid swab were collected in phosphate buffer saline (pH = 7.2) for bacterial examination following standard procedures (Hunter, 1998). On histopathological examination, lungs revealed multifocal necrotic areas with bacterial colonies in the centre surrounded by large number of neutrophils and few macrophages. Oat type cells were also observed in alveoli (Figures 4 and 5). Special stain with giemsa showed mixed bacterial infection of diplococci, some cocobacilli and bipolar bacteria (Figure 6). Heart revealed congestion with mild haemorrhages and pericardium was infiltrated with 53

G. Kashyap, J.A. Dar, Z.A. War, et al.




Figure 4: Lung section showing focal necrotic areas surrounded by bacterial colony with massive and different types of cellular reactions in alveoli H&E 100×

Figure 5: Alveoli having neotrophils, macrophages and oat type cells H&E, 400×

various types of inflammatory cells. Lymph node revealed aggregates of histiocytes, plasma cells and lymphocytes in the subcapsular areas along with depletion of the lymphoid follicle. Kidney showed moderate tubular degeneration with eosinophilic mass in the tubules. Liver showed congestion of central vein. Small intestine showed congestion in serosal layer and mild inflammatory cells in lamina propria with loss of enterocytes. Synovial fluid swab stained with Gram stain revealed purple coloured cocci in bunches, characteristic of Staphalycoccus spp. Navel or joint ill usually occurs in calves less than 1 week of age, as a result of inflammation; due to infection of the tissues of the umbilicus after 54

Figure 6: Lung section with giemsa stain showing diplococcus cocci, cocobacilli and bipolar stain bacteria 1000×

parturition in dirty environment (Blowey and Weaver, 2011), navel ill was found prevalent in area around Bareilly due to dirty environment reported approx 67% found important cause of mortality (Tiwari et al., 2007), which are mostly seen before season of mansoon as reported by Jalal et al. (2017). Microorganisms enter the umbilicus and may result in a local reaction at the point of entry into the body, between the muscle layers, or in the peritoneum. The bacteria may pass via the umbilical vein to the liver and then to systemic blood, may cause septicemia or result in chronic illness due to localisation in the organs such as heart, brain (cause meningitis), eye (causing panophthalmia) and joints (causing arthritis) Naik et al. (2011). The richly vascular synovial membrane appears to be a favoured site for localisation of blood borne bacteria and some bacteria produce toxins, which may cause septicemia (a systemic disease commonly known as blood poisoning); the calf becomes very ill and may quickly die. Bacterial toxins kill the calf by sending it into shock, due to circulatory problems, and by causing multiple organ failure (Jubb et al., 1993). Multiple bacterial organisms have been isolated in cases of navel ill, hence is referred to as a non-specific bacterial condition (Bowen, 2014). Anderson and Rings (2008) reported that most umbilical infections are caused by Actinomyces pyogenes and Escherichia coli being the second most commonly isolated bacteria, while in the present report A. pyogenes was not detected. Finding of trichobenzoars Vol. 20, No. 1, January-June, 2018

Bacteriological and Pathological Study of a Case of Navel Ill and Its Complications




suggests that the animals were unable to eat and walk, so were licking of hairs of own and nearby animals due to nutrition deficiency; this is main cause reported by Jelinski et al. (1996). Navel ill can be prevented by maintenance of maternity pen hygiene, navel antisepsis with repeated cord dipping with chlorhexidine and adequate early intake of goodquality colostrum (Lorenz et al., 2011). The prevalence of navel ill is a major animal health issue. It affects umbilicus, joints and other organs. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria contribute to navel ill, and they show resistance to different commonly used antibiotics, so a complex combination of antibiotic treatment after cultural sensitivity test may be an option of treatment aiming to reduce calf mortality caused by navel ill in dairy farm. Strict hygienic maintenance of a living environment and adequate colostrum ingestion is necessary to prevent this disease. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are thankful to the Director ICARIVRI for providing necessary facilities for research work. First author is grateful to Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, for providing Junior Research Fellowship. REFERENCES Anderson DE and Rings M (2008). Current veterinary therapy: food animal practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. Blowey R and Weaver AD (2011). Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of Cattle. Elsevier Health Sciences. Bowen JS (2014). Joint ill in goats. In: The Merck Veterinary Manual. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/ mvm/musculoskeletal_system/lameness_in_goats/ jointill_in_goats.html. Accessed on 9 September 2017. Chakrabarti A (2003). Joint ill, A Textbook of Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 3rd ed. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India, Section, 3(31): 493–496.

Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology

Jalal MS, Dutta A, Islam KMF, Sultana J, Sohel MSH and Ahad A (2017). A study on the prevalence and etiology of joint ill in calves of cross-breed dairy cattle in six dairy farms of Bangladesh. Research Journal for Veterinary Practitioners, 4: 66-70. Jelinski MD, Ribble CS, Campbell JR and Janzen ED (1996). Investigating the relationship between abomasal hairballs and perforating abomasal ulcers in unweaned beef calves. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 37: 23–26. Jubb KVF, Kennedy PC and Palmer N (1993). Pathology of Domestic Animals. 4th ed. Academic Press, USA. Lorenz I, Mee JF, Earley B and More SJ (2011). Calf health from birth to weaning. I. General aspects of disease prevention. Irish Veterinary Journal, 64: 10.1186. Mee JF (2008). Newborn dairy calf management. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 24: 1–17. Naik G, Ananda K , K av it ha Rani B , Kot res h A , Shambulingappa B and Patel S (2011). Navel ill in new born calves and its successful treatment. Veterinary World, 4: 326–327. Hunter A (1998). OIE Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines, List A and B diseases of mammals, birds and bees, 3rd edn. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 30:158-158. Radostits OM, Gay C, Hinchcliff KW and Constable PD (2007). A textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats. Veterinary Medicine, 10: 2045–2050. Scott P, Penny C and Macrae A (2011). Cattle Medicine. 1st ed. Manson/Veterinary Press, London. Tiwari R, Sharma MC and Singh BP (2007). Buffalo calf health care in commercial dairy farms: a field study in Uttar Pradesh (India). Livestock Research for Rural Development, 19: 38. Waltner-Toews D, Martin S and Meek A (1986). Dairy calf management, morbidity and mortality in Ontario Holstein herds. III. Association of management with morbidity. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 4: 137– 158.

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