Diseases: Pasteurellosis (Transit Fever)

Also known as Transit Fever)

Pneumonic pasteurellosis or Transit Fever is most commonly seen in recently weaned, single-suckled beef calves after housing or transport to a new herd/premises.

The disease is commonly associated with mixing and confining calves of multiple origins at cattle markets and is often seen within a couple of weeks after arrival at a fattening unit.

Causes of Pasteurellosis (Transit Fever)

The primary causative agents of pneumonic pasteurellosis are two bacteria: Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica (most important), Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni.

Mannheimia haemolytica is usually the primary pathogen causing transit fever. There are two recognised serotypes causing disease types A1 and A6. It is found in the nasal passages of a number of healthy carrier animals, with outbreaks of disease precipitated by stress and mixing of animals.

Pasteurella multocida is also carried by healthy animals and is usually a secondary pathogen, invading pre-existing damaged airways.
 
Histophilus somni is difficult to isolate from pneumonic animals. 

 

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Effects of Pasteurellosis (Transit Fever)

The acute disease manifests itself with fever, rapid breathing and nasal discharge. Some deaths may occur and many animals remain dull and anorexic for a period after recovery, causing significant economic losses in retarded growth rates.

Calves may also progress to cases of chronic pneumonia which often fail to finish.

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Treatment & Control of Pasteurellosis (Transit Fever)

Early treatment with antibiotics, at the first sign of symptoms, is effective in reducing mortality and ensuring full recovery. The recovery, however, tends to take up to seven days, even when antibiotics are used.
 
Whilst it has now been accepted that Pasteurella spp. are the primary cause of pneumonic pasteurellosis, nevertheless, viral infections and stress (travel, transport, new environment, mixing with new animals etc.) are important factors that predispose calves to the disease. Consequently, in many countries, the disease is primarily a problem in beef fattening units, particularly in those where weaned calves are bought in from other farms via a cattle market.
 

Prevention and control of pneumonic pasteurellosis has centred on the predisposing factors in combination with vaccination where herds are at high risk.  

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Medication/Vaccination for Pasteurellosis (Transit Fever)

A number of antimicrobials are available which should be effective, with the decision on which one to use based on method and frequency of dosing and cost.

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents has been shown to be beneficial in speeding recovery and reducing residual lung damage.
 
Prophylactic treatment of in-contact animals, particularly animals that arrived in the same batch as the affected ones, is advisable and is carried out by most practitioners. Isolation of the affected animal is probably not helpful in preventing the disease at this stage, as most in-contact animals will already have contracted the infection during transport or in the market.
 
There are a few vaccines available which are effective in preventing pasteurellosis. All vaccines are in activated and should be given to calves ahead of the expected time of challenge or stress. One of the vaccines is also a polyvalent vaccine, offering protection against Bovine Respiratory Syncitial Virus and Para-Influenza virus.
All vaccines are licensed as effective against type A1 M. haemolytica, although some cross protection against type A6 is also reported for Bovipast (Intervet) which contains RSV and PI3.
 
This info was adapted from Defra’s Compendium of Animal Health & Welfare in Organic Farming, which is a collaborative effort led by Duchy College, Cornwall with VEERU at The University of Reading and The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow.
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