THROMBOCYTOPAENIA IN CATTLE WITH MUCOSAL DISEASE

Over a period of 18 months, 105 cattle with mucosal disease were exami ned clinically, virologically haematologically and pathologically, Of these 86 animals were suffering from acute mucosal disease and 17 anim als had the chronic form of the disease. BVD virus was isolated from 9 2 cases and only three affected animals had neutralising antibodies. T he haematological examination revealed that 21 animals had a thrombocy topaenia; the partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen values were w ithin the normal range. Fourteen cattle had elevated thromboplastin ti mes. This is the first report of thrombocytopaenia in young and adult cattle with acute and chronic mucosal disease.