FieldDxSepticemic Pasteurellosis of CattleClinical signs, differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention in cattle.
Overview
The most economically important bacterial disease of water buffalo and cattle in tropical Asia, often peracute and highly fatal. Pasteurella multocida serotypes B:2 (Asia) or E:2 (Africa). Marked emergency in FieldDx.
Clinical signs
- Fever of 104-106 F.
- Drooling and watering eyes.
- Nasal discharge, serous through to mucopurulent.
- Laboured breathing and respiratory distress.
- Subcutaneous swelling of the throat, neck and brisket.
- Cyanosis and recumbency.
- Abdominal pain with diarrhoea.
- Peracute cases die within 8-24 hours.
Predisposing factors
- High temperature and humidity; the rainy season.
- Concurrent blood parasites or foot-and-mouth disease.
- Poor nutrition.
- Work stress.
Look-alikes to rule out
Treatment
- Intravenous antimicrobials given early.
- Sulfonamides, tetracyclines, penicillin, gentamicin, kanamycin, ceftiofur, enrofloxacin, tilmicosin or chloramphenicol.
- Treatment often fails because the disease moves so fast.
Drugs mentioned: Chloramphenicol Enrofloxacin Gentamicin, Systemic Penicillin G Penicillin V
Prevention
1. Killed vaccines: bacterins, alum-precipitated, aluminium hydroxide gel or oil-adjuvant. 2. Boost annually or twice yearly depending on the vaccine. 3. Use vaccines made from strains circulating in the region. 4. Ring vaccination during an outbreak. 5. Establish disease-free zones after 3 years without a case. 6. Intranasal live-attenuated vaccine is an option.
Source
MSD Veterinary Manual — Hemorrhagic Septicemia in Water Buffalo and Cattle (accessed 2026-07-31)
Condensed and attributed, never reproduced whole. Open the full entry in the app.