Epizootological investigation of an outbreak of emphysematous carbuncle in cattle (case study in the irkutsk region)

Currently, one of the significant problems in animal husbandry, including dairy cattle breeding, remains the registration of acute diseases caused by clostridia. This work uses the results of an epizootological survey of an epizootic focus of an infectious disease of cattle and small ruminants in the Alarsky district of the Irkutsk region. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using a standard package of applied programs Microsoft Excel and methods of epizootological analysis. Thermostable microorganisms are sown from biological material, giving intense gas formation on the KittTarozzi medium, which indicates the presence of anaerobic bacteria in the pathological material. In smears of cultures isolated from biological material from dead animals, gram-positive rods with spores located subterminally are detected. The development of the disease in vaccinated animals may indicate both the ineffectiveness of the vaccine (this is confirmed by information from other regions) and the appearance of mutant variants of Clostridium chauvoei. The described epizootological features of the disease manifestation, clinical signs, pathological changes and results of primary laboratory tests allow us to diagnose emphysematous carbuncle. The measures taken by the Veterinary Service of the Irkutsk Region adequately ensure the localization of epizootic foci and the prevention of the spread of the disease beyond the affected area in accordance with the current veterinary regulations. Animal owners are recommended to take measures to improve the maintenance of animals: stopping winter grazing, feeding hay and in farmsteads, prohibiting the removal of unsterilized manure to public areas and grazing. However, these recommendations are not fully implemented due to the prevailing ethnic and cultural aspects of livestock farming.