27/05/2025
Heartwater (Also called Cowdriosis)
1. Cause (Etiology)
Heartwater is caused by a bacteria-like organism called Ehrlichia ruminatum. It is spread by ticks, especially the Amblyomma ticks.
2. Economic importance.
- Sudden deaths of valuable animals
- Loss of productivity (milk, meat)
- Expensive treatment and prevention
- Loss of young stock
3. Transmission
- Spread through bites from infected Amblyomma ticks
- Ticks pick it from infected animals and spread to others
- Not spread directly between animals
4. Animals affected
- Cattle
- Goats
- Sheep
- Wild ruminants (less often)
5. Clinical signs.
Per-Acute form (Very fast):
- Sudden death
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
Sub-Acute form:
- High fever lasting days
- Coughing
- Breathing difficulty (fluid in lungs)
- May recover or die in 1–2 weeks
Subclinical form
- Seen in resistant breeds
- Mild fever or no signs
6. Postmortem lesions (After death)
- Fluid around the heart (hydropericardium)
- Fluid in chest (hydrothorax)
- Fluid in abdomen (ascites)
- Small bleeding spots in intestines (petechiae, hemorrhages)
- Brain swelling and congestion
7. Differential diagnosis (Look-alike diseases)
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Poisoning
- Meningitis
- Babesiosis
- East Coast Fever (ECF)
8. Prevention
- Regular tick control (spraying, dipping)
- Use tick-free pastures when possible
- Isolate and monitor new or sick animals
- Early RX with oxytetracycline helps save infected animals. But late RX after nervous signs is not effective.
Note:
Early detection and veterinary help are key to reducing losses from Heartwater.
Contact Dream Big Mobile Veterinary Services
