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Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) is a sporadic and fatal disease of predominantly lactating dairy cattle, characterized by segmental hemorrhage and luminal clot formation in the small intestine. Although, Clostridium perfringens and Aspergillus fumigatus have been associated with HBS, the pathogenesis and cause are currently unknown. In this study, 18 naturally occurring cases of HBS (7 necropsied immediately following euthanasia, 11 with 12–48 hour postmortem intervals) were investigated to characterize the pathology and the intestinal microbiome. Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome was characterized by a single small-intestinal, intramucosal hematoma with dissection of the lamina muscularis mucosae. In most cases necropsied immediately after euthanasia (4/7), the intestinal mucosa proximal to the hematoma contained 9 to 14, dispersed, solitary or clustered, erosions or lacerations measuring 4 to 45 mm. In 77% (37/48) of these mucosal lesions, microscopic splitting of the lamina muscularis mucosae comparable to the hematoma was present. These findings suggest the intramucosal hematoma to originate from small mucosal erosions through dissecting hemorrhage within the lamina muscularis mucosae. No invasive fungal growth was observed in any tissue. Bacteriological cultivation and nanopore sequencing showed a polymicrobial population at the hematoma and unaffected intestine, with mostly mild presence of C perfringens at selective culture. Gross and microscopic lesions, as well as the culture and sequencing results, were not in support of involvement of C perfringens or A fumigatus in the pathogenesis of HBS.

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Summary Botryomycosis is an uncommon chronic bacterial pyogranulomatous infection of cutaneous and, rarely of visceral origin, that can rarely invade the osseous tissues. An 8‐year‐old Friesian gelding was presented with severe bilateral hindlimb ataxia and paresis of 2‐weeks' duration. Radiographic examination revealed a large osteolytic lesion at the T10‐T11 intervertebral disc space. Post‐mortem examination revealed discospondylitis with abscess formation and histological presence of pyogranulomatous inflammation with coccoform bacteria rimmed by Splendore‐Hoeppli material. Staphylococcus aureus was identified by bacteriological examination. This case report describes the clinical presentation, imaging features and post‐mortem findings of a Friesian gelding presenting with severe bilateral hindlimb ataxia and paresis caused by compression and degeneration of the spinal cord due to a botryomycosis‐like thoracic discospondylitis. Botryomycosis‐like infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal expansile bone lesions demonstrating diffuse osteolysis, sclerosis and interrupted bone margins.

Background Between 2007 and 2011 several thousands of calves died from bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP), a bleeding syndrome triggered by vaccine induced alloantibodies from the dams. Following withdrawal of the involved bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDv) vaccine, the incidence of this condition rapidly decreased, with no reported cases in the last 5 years. Here, we report a recent immune-mediated pancytopenia in three calves from two different suckler herds, clinically indistinguishable from BNP. Case presentation Three Belgian Blue suckler calves from two different farms, aged around two weeks, showed multiple bleedings disseminated on the skin and petechiae and ecchymoses on the mucosae. Blood examination confirmed anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. BVDv infection was excluded. Despite blood transfusion and cortisone therapy, all three animals died. Necropsy and histology confirmed bone marrow depletion. Binding of IgG from the dams on leukocytes of the calves was demonstrated by flow cytometry. Two calves, originating from the same farm, received colostrum from the same dam. None of the calves were given colostrum replacers or colostrum supplements. No link with the BNP causing BVDv vaccine could be evidenced. However, dams had been vaccinated against bovine herpesvirus 1, parainfluenza-3 virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and bluetongue virus serotype 8. Conclusions Alloimmune mediated pancytopenia was evidenced in three animals, clinically and pathologically indistinguishable from BNP. Whether this disease is again vaccine mediated remains to be determined.