NABS Significant Disease Investigations
Some investigations from the network
since launch in 2018
Lungworm and BRD in adult Brahman cattle
10% of 250 cows with respiratory signs and six deaths
Pregnancy toxaemia in transported cows
7 of 860 cattle die during or soon after trucking
Sudden death of heifers due to Tick Fever
Eleven die from a mob of 400 first-calving heifers.
Sudden death due to probable urea toxicity
100 of 3000 cattle die suddenly over a 3 week period.
Thrombocytopenia with tick infestation
Sudden death of 19 (of 1600) heifers after routine speying and processing.
Weaners die from ruminal acidosis
20 freshly weaned cattle in a mob of 400 die within a week.
Heifers collapse in hindlegs with necrotic myositis
Five young heifers with hindquarter collapse from a mob of 300 weaners.
Necrotising skin lesions – open diagnosis
More than a dozen young animals from across the property affected.
Blackleg in unweaned calves in good condition
Eight calves found dead or die within a few hours, another seven missing at muster.
Multiple cases of hepatopathy in horses
An investigation that joined the dots across a district.
Heifer with ‘lumpy’ skin lesions – LSD rule-out
Single heifer with lumpy skin lesions in a mob of 1200.
Weight loss over six months, BRD confirmed
15 heifers with ill thrift and drooling in a mob of 300.
Botulism the prime suspect
Sudden death of nine cattle in 7 days.
Bovine fibropapilloma in weaner mob
50 of 250 cattle in a weaner mob develop raised, nodular skin lesions over 3 weeks.
A Yersiniosis outbreak in cows and weaners
16 of 170 Brahman die within 48 hours of becoming sick.
Annual ryegrass toxicity in yarded bulls
15 of 40 bulls die within days of showing respiratory and nervous signs.
Yellow-wood poisoning of heifers
19 heifers in a mob of 350 die in a five-day period.
Acute oxalate poisoning of merino ewes
An investigation into the recumbency and death of 80+ ewes.
Bovine hypertensive syndrome in mature cows
An investigation of multiple cow mortalities after entry to a station feedlot.
Multiple tick fever deaths in young steers
An investigation of five steers found dead near water square in three days.
Jaagsiekte: chronic weight loss/ respiratory syndrome of horses
An investigation of weight loss and deaths of horses with progressive lung pathology.
Sudden death of six heifers due to a hepatotoxin
An investigation into the sudden of six heifers within 8 days.
Bacterial pneumonia in recently-weaned steers
Investigation of a disease event with 14 dead and another 100 sick a week after arriving on a new property.
Paralysis tick kills 22 cows
Investigation of a high mortality event that had an instant fix.
Septicaemia with multi-organ vasculitis and thrombosis
An investigation of 16 young bulls that died within a month of being introduced from the south.
From dull to dead – a horse with Hendra virus
A case reminder of an important zoonoses and differential for African horse sickness.
Rectal haemorrhage and sudden death – possible JHS
Investigation of an acute disease event that was characterised by liver damage and haemorrhage.
Lantana poisoning in yearling heifers
An investigation of buccal erosions and skin lesions in heifers from multiple sources.
Rule-out of exotic disease in feral pigs
The clinical examination and sampling of feral pigs in poor condition.
Acutely lame sheep in western Queensland
Investigation of acute lameness in a mob of recently introduced sheep.
Nitrate-nitrite poisoning in mature bulls
Investigation of the overnight death of 15 (of 40) bulls held in a yard.
Obstructive urolithiasis in steers
Investigation of ill health in young Brahman steers where affected animals became reluctant to move and ultimately die.
Ill-thrift in horses due to suspect plant toxicity
Investigation of 12 dull and lethargic horses in a herd of 30.
Vesicles on the teat skin of a dairy cow
The immediate examination of skin lesions seen on a dairy cow at the afternoon milking.
Suspect Chillagoe disease in horses
Post mortem of a sick stockhorse following deaths of others found at muster.
Lead poisoning in heifer mob
Four heifers in a mob of 21 died shortly after showing acute neurological signs. A case report of the diagnosis and management of a reportable disease event.
Extremely poor season affecting weaner health
Investigation of the health issues following early weaning following multiple deaths.
Polioencephalomalacia in 15 weaners
Investigation of weaners with sudden onset of head pressing, jaw champing and staggering after yarding.
Suspect plant poisoning of breeders held in laneway
Investigation of suspect plant poisoning of breeder cows after being yarded overnight.
Deaths in wild caught buffalo
Investigations of wasting and deaths in holding yards in the weeks post capture.
Sow mortality in small piggery, not ASF
Investigation of morbidity and mortalities over 16 weeks in a 60-sow piggery.
Nephrotoxicity most likely caused by plant poisoning
Investigation of deaths of 10 weaners from a mob of 70 over 4-6 weeks.
Botulism as likely cause of paralysis and death
Investigation of ongoing, unexplained deaths where botulism was high on the list of differentials.
Shipping Fever deaths in yarded yearlings
Investigation of disease outbreak where 30 yearlings (from a mob of 800) died after yarding.
Deaths at mustering – possible metabolic
Investigation of repeated events of cows in good body condition going down during mustering and dying.
Zamia staggers in heifers and weaners
Investigation of irreversible hindleg ataxia in young animals.
Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) in a stock horse
A definitive diagnosis that confirmed arbovirus activity and the absence of EADs.
Tick fever deaths in a holding yard
How a systematic approach to an investigation of sudden deaths yielded rapid results.
Early weaning plus BRD and monensin toxicity
Investigation of 40 weaners dead and another 60 depressed and listless.
Calf deaths in a dairy herd due to salmonellosis
Investigation of the death of 18 calves in a dairy herd on the Atherton Tableland.