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Dr. Rice’s Mystery Photo- December 2020

From the December 2020 newsletter: The photo is from a 700-pound beef calf that died after exhibiting neurologic signs. The calf had been treated with thiamine prior to death. Rabies examination was negative.

Laura Rice, NDSU

The answer: 

Brain: Thrombotic meningoencephalitis

Grossly, there are variably sized areas of hemorrhage within the brain parenchyma that are often surrounded by soft tan tissue (necrosis).  These lesions are consistent with vasculitis. Histophilus somni, which is an organism that can cause systemic disease, was cultured from the heart. In addition to thrombotic meningoencephalitis, there was also myocardial, pulmonary, and renal histophilosis in this case.

Photo courtesy of Laura Rice, DVM, MS, DACVP

View the December 2020 newsletter.