obsolete ephemeral fever

Obsolete Ephemeral Fever: A Brief Overview

Obsolete ephemeral fever, also known as bovine ephemeral fever or three-day sickness, is a viral disease that affects cattle and water buffalo. The disease was first reported in the late 19th century and has been prevalent in various regions, including the tropics and subtropics.

Key Characteristics:

• Transmission: Obsolete ephemeral fever is spread by biting insects, such as mosquitoes and midges.
• Symptoms: The disease causes a range of symptoms, including:
  • Fever (40°–42°C [104°–107.6°F])
  • Inappetence
  • Tearing
  • Serous nasal discharge
  • Drooling
  • Pulmonary emphysema
  • Increased heart rate
  • Tachypnea or dyspnea
  • Atony of forestomachs
  • Listlessness
• Hosts: The disease primarily affects cattle, including Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and Bos javanicus, as well as water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Classification:

Obsolete ephemeral fever is caused by the bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV), a member of the genus Ephemerovirus in the family Rhabdoviridae. The disease has been identified to have at least 4 antigenic subtypes, but only one serotype.

Incidence:

The disease is most prevalent in the wet season in tropical regions and during summer to early autumn in subtropical or temperate regions. It disappears abruptly in winter.

References:

• [3] Bovine ephemeral fever was first reported in the late 19th century.
• [4] The disease has a variety of names, including "three days sickness", stiff sickness, dengu fever of cattle, bovine epizootic fever, and lazy man's disease.
• [8] Bovine ephemeral fever is a viral disease of cattle, Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and Bos javanicus, and water buffalo Bubalus bubalis.

Signs and Symptoms of Bovine Ephemeral Fever

Bovine ephemeral fever, also known as three-day sickness or dragon boat disease, is a viral disease that affects cattle and water buffalo. The symptoms of this disease can be quite severe and include:

• Sudden onset of fever: This is one of the earliest signs of bovine ephemeral fever, with temperatures rising rapidly over a short period.
• Stiffness and lameness: Affected animals may become stiff and lame, making it difficult for them to move around.
• Nasal and ocular discharges: Discharge from the eyes and nose is common in cattle suffering from bovine ephemeral fever.
• Hypocalcaemia: This condition can lead to a range of symptoms, including depression, cessation of rumination, muscle tremors, and constipation.

These symptoms are often accompanied by a decrease in appetite, weakness, milk production, abortions, or decreased fertility. In severe cases, the disease can cause significant economic losses for cattle farmers and owners.

Incubation Period and Duration

The incubation period for bovine ephemeral fever is typically 2-4 days, with viremia persisting for 1-3 days. The initial sites of infection are not known, but the virus has been shown to cause inflammation in affected animals.

Transmission

Bovine ephemeral fever is transmitted by mosquitoes and biting midges, which can spread the disease from one animal to another. The disease is often seen after heavy rainfall and flooding, which provide favorable conditions for insect populations to increase.

References:

• [1] Bovine Ephemeral Fever: a review. S Nandi, B.S Negi, in Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 1999.
• [3] Bovine ephemeral fever: a viral disease of cattle, Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and Bos javanicus and water buffalo Bubalus bubalis.
• [8] Bovine Ephemeral Fever, commonly known as 3 day sickness, is a significant disease affecting cattle in northern Australia.
• [9] Bovine ephemeral fever is a non-contagious arthropod-borne virus disease which affects cattle in many tropical and subtropical countries.

Diagnostic Tests for Bovine Ephemeral Fever

Bovine ephemeral fever, also known as three-day sickness, is a viral disease that affects cattle and water buffaloes. While there are no specific diagnostic tests for this disease, several methods can be used to confirm its presence.

• Serology: Most cases of bovine ephemeral fever are confirmed by serology, which involves testing the blood serum of affected animals for the presence of antibodies against the virus (1). A rising titer should be demonstrated, but single serum samples may be suggestive in areas where this disease does not normally occur.
• Clinical Signs: Diagnosis is based almost entirely on clinical signs in an epidemic. Veterinarians can diagnose the disease by observing the characteristic symptoms such as fever, lameness, and increased oropharyngeal secretions (7).

Limitations of Diagnostic Tests

While diagnostic tests are available, they have some limitations. Anamnestic responses to BEFV can occur during the first exposure, which may lead to false-negative results (2). Additionally, definitive diagnosis is rarely performed due to the lack of specific diagnostic tests.

Importance of Accurate Diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis of bovine ephemeral fever is crucial for controlling the spread of the disease. It allows veterinarians to take appropriate measures to prevent further transmission and reduce the economic impact on cattle farming.

References:

(1) [Context 1] (2) [Context 2] (7) [Context 7]

Treatment Options for Obsolete Ephemeral Fever

Obsolete ephemeral fever, also known as bovine ephemeral fever, is a viral disease that affects cattle and water buffalo. While the disease itself may be considered "obsolete" in modern veterinary medicine, it's still essential to understand the treatment options available.

• Anti-inflammatory drugs: Administration of anti-inflammatory medications, such as NSAIDs (e.g., carprofen, ketoprofen), can help reduce fever and alleviate symptoms [1][3].
• Fluid therapy: Providing fluid therapy can stimulate appetite and correct dehydration in affected animals [11].
• Herbal composition: A herbal composition comprising Acalypha indica, Azima tetracantha, Brassica juncea, Albizzia lebbeck has been suggested as a treatment option for ephemeral fever [12].

It's essential to note that the effectiveness of these treatments may vary depending on the severity and stage of the disease. In some cases, supportive care, such as providing complete rest and avoiding stress or work, may be the most effective treatment approach [1][7].

References:

[1] Context 1: Complete rest is the most effective treatment for bovine ephemeral fever, and recovering animals should not be stressed or worked because relapse is likely. [3] Context 7: Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs has been shown to reduce the course of the disease and calcium injections may aid animals that are down. [11] Context 11: Administration of an anti-inflammatory drug helps reduce fever and lung damage. Fluid therapy can be given to stimulate appetite and correct dehydration. [12] Context 12: A herbal composition for treatment of ephemeral fever, the composition comprising of Acalypha indica, Azima tetracantha, Brassica juncea, Albizzia lebbeck...

The differential diagnosis of obsolete ephemeral fever, also known as ephemeral fever or bovine ephemeral fever (BEF), involves considering various conditions that may present with similar symptoms.

Causes of Ephemeral Fever

• Infectious diseases: Ephemeral fever is caused by a viral infection, specifically the bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) [5].
• Other viral diseases: Bluetongue and other vector-borne viral diseases can also present with similar symptoms [5].

Differential Diagnosis

• Inflammatory conditions: Conditions such as acute onset systemic disease (AOSD) can present with fever of unknown origin, which may be a differential diagnosis for ephemeral fever [8].
• Neoplastic causes: Neoplasms or cancers can also cause fever of unknown origin, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis [2][6].
• Infectious diseases: Other infectious diseases such as infections and inflammatory conditions should also be considered in the differential diagnosis [1][3].

**Clinical Signs