Student Case Presentation
Intermittent Seizures in a Show Heifer
| Date/Time: |
9/12/2024 2:00 pm
|
| Presenter: |
Haley Dueñas |
| Veterinary School: |
TAM |
Abstract:
A 7-month-old show heifer presented for bloody diarrhea, anorexia, and intermittent seizures of three days duration. At least three times in the 24 hours prior to presentation, she experienced one-to-two-minute episodes consisting of lateral recumbency, stretching her neck and head upward, and paddling with all limbs. Afterwards, she was able to sit sternal, rise and ambulate normally. Between episodes she appeared to be visual and aware of her surroundings.
Physical examination abnormalities included tachypnea with wheezes bilaterally, and diarrhea containing mucus and bright red blood. Shortly after physical examination, the heifer became laterally recumbent, opisthotonic, and paddled with all limbs for approximately 2 minutes. Afterwards, the heifer sat in sternal recumbency for another two minutes before rising to her feet. She was quiet but alert and able to walk. Initial differential diagnoses included bronchopneumonia, coccidiosis, nervous coccidiosis, sodium ion toxicity/water deprivation, and rabies. Complete blood count and serum chemistry results were within normal limits. A fecal float revealed the presence of large numbers of coccidia.
History, physical exam, and diagnostic test results were indicative of nervous coccidiosis with concurrent gastrointestinal coccidiosis and mild pneumonia. Despite aggressive therapy with thiamine, sulfadimethoxine, transfaunation, midazolam, and florfenicol, the periods of normalcy decreased, and the seizures increased in severity and length. Due to the rapid progression of the disease and the poor to grave prognosis, the owners elected euthanasia. Necropsy findings revealed she was negative for rabies, but positive for lesions diagnostic of gastrointestinal coccidiosis. Gastrointestinal coccidiosis, with no abnormalities of the nervous tissue in a bovid displaying intermittent seizures is considered diagnostic of nervous coccidiosis. Therefore, this manifestation of coccidiosis should be on the differential list in weaning age calves experiencing these clinical signs concurrent with signs and evidence of gastrointestinal coccidiosis. Treatment of this form of coccidiosis is often unrewarding.
