Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.15, No.3,2016
Proceeding of 5th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
475
THE EFFECT OF FMD DISEASE ON 3RD TRIMESTER
PREGNANT COWS AND THEIR FETUSES
Abdulameer A.Hatem , Majid A. Talal
College of Veterinary Medicine,University of Kufa ,Kufa,Iraq
Keywords: FMD ,Fetuses ,Cow
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out in Al-Najaf province to evaluate the effects of FMD
disease on sixty pregnant cow at 3rd trimester time and on its fetuses , during June ,
July and August of 2014 .
The animals were divided into three groups (20 cows for each) according to
gestation period A , B and C on seven, eight and nine month of gestation
respectively. The cows were given antipyretic , systemic antibiotic and local treatment
for mouth and hoofs lesions .
Results showed 15% , 20% and 30% of cows were aborted in seven , eight and
nine month of gestation respectively . None of fetuses were found dead in group A ,
whereas 3% and 15% were dead in group B and C respectively .
INTRODUCTION
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting
cloven-hoofed domestic and wild animals and is characterized by fever and pain from
vesicles , erosions and blisters in the mouth, udder, and teats and on the skin between
the toes and above the hooves(1). In Iraq, the disease is endemic and occurs round the
year and being widespread in nature with the potential of causing severe economic
losses result from loss of productivity, reduced milk production, reduced growth rate
of meat animals, reduced fertility (abortion rate up to 10%) and delays in conception,
death of very young animals and trade disruptions in animals and animal products (2 ,
3). Recently the main causes of disease in Iraq were O , A strains and A-Iran-05 (4 ,5 ,
6). The disease affects all breeds and ages of cattle. Chronic heat stress can negatively
affect an animal’s growth performance and the immune competence to some bacterial
or viral infection (7, 8) .
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.15, No.3,2016
Proceeding of 5th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
476
There are different factors that influence a particular animal’s response to
infectious diseases . In briefly, these factors can be grouped in genetics, health,
production status, environment and previous exposure to pathogens (9).
Temperature, humidity, radiant heat, and wind all affect heat stress in cows. they
become stressed and release hormones related to stress. These hormones lead to a
release of different hormones that change the uterine environment in which the
embryo is developing (10).
Exotic and cross-bred cattle suffer more severely, with a mortality rate of 10 to
20%, against only 2 to 3 per cent in the local breeds (11).
Occurrence of abortion is one of the most economic concerns after effect of FMD
in dairy cattle during hot season.
The present study is focused on evaluation of environmental stress on 3rd trimester
pregnant cows infected with FMD and their fetuses.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The study was conducted at Al-Najaf governorate located in Iraq at 32ºɴ latitude
and 44ºE longitude at an altitude of 70 m above mean sea level . Data of
environmental temperature and humidity were collected from the Authority Iraqi air
adversity (12) Figure 1 .
Sixty crossbreed pregnant dairy cows at 3rd trimester of gestation , the animals were
subdivided into three groups , the first group (A) consisting of twenty animals who
whom at the seventh month of pregnancy. The second group (B) containing twenty
pregnant cows in eighth month, while the third group (C) having twenty cows in the
last month of gestation. Diagnosis of gestation period was based on history of
artificial insemination and rectal palpation .
All animals were subjected to therapeutic efficacy with intravenous
flunixin meglumine 1.1 mg/kg/day as single dose (13) , and enrofloxacin
subcutaneously as a single dose of 7 mg/kg of body weight (14) . Accompanied with
5% Povidon iodine and oxytetracyclin spray for local treatment on mouth , hoofs and
teats lesion.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.15, No.3,2016
Proceeding of 5th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
477
Figure (1) Mean of temperature and humidity among June , July and August 2014.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Initially , the disease is endemic in Iraq and occurs more in the summer season
(15). Here, the climatic condition during these months particularly July and August
are more hot and humid in comparison to the other months of the year could be the
possible cause of disease. The chronic heat stress condition negatively affects both
humoral and cellular responses against foot and mouth disease in line with(2).
The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) occurred between Jun &
September 2014. During this period the environmental temperature was between 45-
51 ºc . The disease was diagnosed on the case history, the clinical features , lesions
and sudden onset and spread within a short period of time. At the beginning the
affected animals show fever (41 -42ºc), anorexia, depression and acute painful
stomatitis, profuse salivation, a characteristic smacking of the lips and
Vesicles/blisters on the mouth, feet (inter-digital space, coronary band) and teat,
which were generally ruptured within 24 hours due to movement of jaw, feet and
during milking respectively, leaving a raw painful surface . Vesicular disease
resemble FMD closely but no information in Iraq (16).
The highest percentage of aborted cows were recorded in group C (30 %) , while
the lowest percentage were recorded in group A (15 %) Table (1) , the interpretation
of these results , that the animals on group C on the last month of gestation they
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.15, No.3,2016
Proceeding of 5th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
478
become stressed and released hormones from adrenal gland related to stress (
corticosteroids ) . These hormones goes to liberation of another hormones that alter
the surrounding condition in the pregnant uterus and lead to increase of mortality rate
of fetus , while in group A ( seven month of pregnancy) the fetus are less susceptible
to hormonal releasing by stress in line with (17 , 18).
Table (1): Numbers and percentage of aborted cows and dead fetus
group Aborted delivered Death after
birth
Percentage
of abortion
Percentage of
dead fetus
A 3 17 - 15 -
B 4 16 1 20 5
C 6 14 3 30 15
Total 13 47 4 21.6 6.6
تأثیر مرض الحمى القلاعیة على الأبقار وأجنتھا خلال الثلاث أشھر الأخیرة من الحمل
عبد الأمیر عبد حاتم، ماجد عبد طلال
کلیة الطب البیطری ، جامعة الکوفة،الکوفھ ،العراق
الخلاصة
أجریت الدراسة فی محافظة النجف الأشرف وذلک لتقییم تأثیر الأصابة بمرض الحمى القلاعیة على الأبقار
. واجنتھا خلال الأشھر الثلاث الأخیرة من الحمل خلال الأشھر حزیران وتموز وآب لسنة 2014
قسمت الحیوانات الى ثلاثة مجموعات وحسب مدة الحمل حیث مثلت المجموعة أ الأبقار فی الشھر السابع من
الحمل فی حین کان المجموعتین ب وج فی الشھر الثامن والتاسع من الحمل على التوالی ، تم علاج الأبقار
المصابة بخافض الحرارة والمضادات الحیویة والعلاج الموضعی للآفات الموجودة فی الفم والقدم .
20 و 30 % فی المجموعات أ ، ب وج على التوالی ولم تظھر ، أظھرت النتائج ان الأجھاض حصل 15
المجموعة أ ای موت للأجنة فی حین کانت 3% و 5% فی المجموعتین ب و ج على التوالی ، نستنتج من ذلک
انھ کلما کان الحمل فی مراحلھ الأخیرة کان تأثیر الأصابة بمرض الحمى القلاعیة شدیدا .
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University of Basrah,Iraq
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