Systemic granulomatous disease in dairy cattle during a dicyandiamide feeding trial

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: Mature, in-calf, non-lactating, Friesian or Friesian-cross cows were fed dicyandiamide (DCD) at daily doses of 0.15 g/kg (Group 1; n=31), 0.45 g/kg (Group 2; n=21) and 0.75 g/kg (Group 3; n=12), as part of a safety trial, which also included a control group (n=15). Daily health observations were carried out on each cow until Day 86 of the study. On Day 28 one cow from Group 3 was observed with signs of disease, and subsequently disease was noted in other cows.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Clinical signs in the first case included depression, pyrexia (40.9°C), salivation and dehydration, in addition to progressive weight loss, followed by death on Day 32. Other cows from all treatment groups developed clinical signs of disease resulting in euthanasia of seven animals. Disease occurred in 10/12 (83%) cows in Group 3, 11/21 (52%) cows in Group 2, and 7/31 (23%) cows in Group 1. Clinical signs were variable and included dermatitis and pruritus of the head and neck, petechial haemorrhages, pyrexia, weight loss, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and regenerative anaemia.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Gross findings included generalised lymphadenopathy, subcutaneous oedema, petechiation of mucosal and serosal surfaces, and gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Histologically, multiple organs and tissues contained inflammatory foci characterised by infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages and occasionally prominent multinucleated giant cells and eosinophils.

DIAGNOSIS: Multisystemic granulomatous and haemorrhagic syndrome resembling cell-mediated hypersensitivity, associated with DCD ingestion.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:: This is the first report of toxicity in cattle associated with ingestion of DCD. The proportion of affected cows increased with increasing dose of DCD, but not all cattle in the high dose group developed disease, therefore additional factors may determine whether or not an individual cow will develop DCD-associated disease.

KEY WORDS:

• Dicyandiamide
• dermatitis
• pruritus pyrexia and haemorrhagic syndrome
• hypersensitivity
• granulomatous
• hairy vetch toxicity

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Estendart Ltd. animal technicians, Anthony Craven and Dr Genevieve D’Amours for their assistance with clinical pathology, Drs Alice Fraser and Alan Julian for undertaking histopathology and peer review, and Dr Will Tulley for providing veterinary assistance. The study and preparation of this manuscript were funded by Ballance Agri-Nutrients and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. Other than selecting dose rates, these parties had no role in the design and implementation of the study, and approved the publication of this manuscript.

Notes

1 https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2017.1412840

2 D Pacheco, K Lowe and S Ledgard, AgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand