BOVINE PNEUMONIC PASTEURELLOSIS - PART II - CLINICAL PRESENTATION ANDTREATMENT

The cause of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis (BPP) is multifactorial. The infective agent can be found in the oropharyngeal flora of healthy cattle. Under certain conditions, it tends to cause subclinical patho physiologic changes in the host defenses, which may lead to developmen t of clinically apparent pneumonia. Part I of this two-part presentati on (published in the January 1998 issue [Vol. 20, No. 1] of Compendium ) discussed the pathophysiologic changes contributing to the developme nt of BPP, This part discusses ways to help prevent the disease and pr ovides an overview of the pathophysiology of clinically significant di sease. Many of the stressful events to which cattle are subjected are dictated by economic concerns. Nevertheless, it may be possible throug h careful management to minimize the impact that these events have on cattle. For example, the calves should be given some time to recover f rom the stress of weaning before they are shipped. Producers should av oid unnecessary changes in the cattle's social groupings. Feed and wat er should be available to cattle before, during, and after stressful e vents (e.g., shipping). Appropriate timing of vaccination and proper h andling and administration of vaccines are also important.