Читать книгу Farm Animal Medicine and Surgery - Graham R Duncanson - Страница 140

Apart from cysts in the sclera conjunctiva, this disease can be asymptomatic. Cattle can show an initial acute phase with generalized skin oedema, swollen lymph nodes and a reluctance to move. This may lead to a chronic phase of alopecia, skin thickening with wrinkles and cracks, and hyperpigmentation. Besnoitosis has been reported in Africa, Asia and South America, and very sporadically in south-west Europe. The cat is the normal intermediate host, and infects cattle by contaminating feed-stuffs. Biting insects may also spread the condition. Diagnosis is from the cysts in the sclera, which are pathognomic. Treatment is with oxytetracyclines and supportive nursing. See ‘Protozoal skin diseases’ under ‘Diseases of the Integument’ below, for further information.