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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of urea in feed supplements?
What happens to the ammonia released in the rumen if the rumen organisms cannot metabolize it?
What is the most common way to diagnose urea poisoning?
What is a common sign of urea poisoning in cattle?
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What can cause urea to separate out from the supplement after transport?
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What is a common indicator of urea poisoning?
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What is the result of the pathway of ammonia and urea in the body being overwhelmed?
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What is the timeframe for urea poisoning to occur after consumption?
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What is the primary reason for measuring blood ammonia levels in both unaffected and sick animals?
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Why is it crucial to freeze rumen fluid immediately after collection and keep it frozen until tested?
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What is a characteristic finding during post-mortem examination of animals that have died from urea poisoning?
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What is the significance of an alkaline rumen (pH greater than 7.5-8) in suspected urea poisoning?
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What is the primary purpose of including formalin-fixed sections of rumen and reticulum in the diagnosis of urea poisoning?
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What is the recommended treatment for urea poisoning in cattle?
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Why may treatment for urea poisoning need to be repeated within 24 hours?
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What is the significance of histopathological changes in the rumen and reticulum of animals that survive the initial poisoning but die or are euthanised a day or two later?
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What is the recommended daily intake of urea for a 400 kg cow?
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What is the primary reason blood ammonia levels are not a useful diagnostic test in dead animals?
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What is the maximum percentage of the total nitrogen intake that should be NPN in cattle?
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What is the likely consequence of feeding a 400 kg cow 600 g of urea per day?
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What is the minimum recommended percentage of urea in the total feed intake?
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What is the primary purpose of keeping rumen and reticulum samples in formalin?
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What is the typical post-mortem sign of urea poisoning in cattle?
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What is the maximum percentage of the concentrate ration that should be urea?
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What is the primary mechanism by which native cellular prion protein is converted into the infectious state?
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What is the characteristic microscopic appearance of the brain in animals affected by BSE?
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Which of the following is a common systemic sign of BSE in cattle?
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What is the primary method of diagnosing BSE?
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What is the term for the abnormal prion protein that causes BSE?
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What is ataxia, as observed in cattle with BSE?
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What is the incubation period of BSE?
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What is a possible origin of BSE in cattle?
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What is the primary method of diagnosis for the disease?
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What is the sensitivity of the detection method described in 2010?
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What is the purpose of import control and feeding regulations in disease-free countries?
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What is the classification of the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues from cattle in the UK?
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What is the result of banning the feeding of cattle meat and bone meal?
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What technology is used in combination with amplification to detect PrPSc?
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Study Notes
Urea Poisoning in Cattle
- Urea poisoning, also known as ammonia poisoning, is a common toxicity in cattle in the Top End.
- Urea is used as a source of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) in feed supplements, which can be metabolized by rumen microflora to synthesize protein.
- Excess consumption of urea can lead to ammonia poisoning, causing rapid death within a few minutes to four hours.
Causes of Urea Poisoning
- Excess consumption of urea
- Sudden introduction to high quantities of urea
- Irregular consumption of urea
- Wet supplement containing urea
- Urea separating out from the supplement after transport
Signs of Urea Poisoning
- Twitching of ears and facial muscles
- Grinding of the teeth, frothy salivation
- Bloat, abdominal pain
- Frequent urination, forced rapid breathing
- Weakness, staggering, violent struggling and bellowing, and terminal spasms
Diagnosis and Laboratory Testing
- History of access to urea and signs shown by live, affected animals are the most useful diagnostic indicators
- Laboratory tests of blood samples are not very helpful, and no specific changes are seen at post-mortem examination
- Laboratory testing of collected blood and rumen fluid immediately after death may indicate urea poisoning
- Post-mortem examination: bloat, white foam in airways, ammonia odour when the rumen is opened, rumen pH 7.5-8.0
Recommended Feeding Quantities and Tolerance
- Recommended feeding quantity: 35 g of urea per day for a 400 kg cow (approximately 0.1 g/kg body weight)
- Tolerance is decreased by starvation and by a low protein, high fibre diet
- Urea should provide no more than 3% of the concentrate ration, or 1% of the total feed intake, and no more than one third of the total nitrogen intake should be NPN
Treatment
- Rarely effective, but if cattle can be handled, a stomach tube can be passed to relieve the bloat and then used to drench the animal with a large volume of cold water and 5% acetic acid or vinegar
- Treatment may need to be repeated within 24 hours, as relapses can occur
BSE (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy)
- A type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)
- Transmission can occur when healthy animals come in contact with tainted tissues from others with the disease
- In the brain, these proteins cause native cellular prion protein to deform into the infectious state, leading to protein aggregates, degeneration of physical and mental abilities, and ultimately death
Signs of BSE
- Cows affected by BSE are usually apart from the herd and will show progressively deteriorating behavioural and neurological signs
- Increase in aggression
- Cattle will react excessively to noise or touch and will slowly become ataxic
- Systemic signs of disease, such as a drop in milk production, anorexia, and lethargy are present
Diagnosis of BSE
- Diagnosis is a practical problem, with an incubation period of months to years
- Traditional method of diagnosis relies on histopathological examination of the medulla oblongata of the brain and other tissues, post-mortem
- Immunohistochemistry can be used to demonstrate prion protein accumulation
Control of BSE
- Ban on feeding cattle meat and bone meal has resulted in a reduction in cases in countries where the disease was present
- In disease-free countries, control relies on import control, feeding regulations, and surveillance measures
- Specified risk materials (brain, spinal cord, trigeminal ganglia, intestines, eyes, and tonsils) from cattle must be disposed of appropriately at the abattoir.
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Description
Learn about urea poisoning, also known as ammonia poisoning, in cattle, its causes, and effects on ruminants. Urea is used as a source of non-protein nitrogen in feed supplements.
