Progressive weight loss in cattle

-Doctor: What can we inject this cow, is so thin?.
then I say to Mr. Juan. - Put it in the funnel stable a moment please.
I will not say much until we have reviewed general aspect, elasticity of the skin, mucous membranes, auscultated carefully and look the rectal temperature. It's funny, but when people see that I introduce the thermometer into the rectum of the animal, they finally shut his mouth. Everyone looks at the ass of the cow and remain quietly as if waiting for the ass "say something" and nobody wants to lose such thing. So but the ass really speaks. When my students understand the importance to keep a thermometer on hand when going to the country, may afford good use of that language. "

Of course, the few minutes remaining the thermometer making his important exploration of the rectal environment also gives me the opportunity to think: What's this? Let's think, in these areas are common cases of hematozoaries agents, they generally, but not in all its stages, with increases of temperature. Could it be?. Mr. Trypanosoma. is the one most often blamed but I have found many cases of anaplasmosis, but the mucous do not match, but maybe it's this or other thing ?....
Finally, I pull the thermometer well smeared with excrement (and still when I wear gloves some criticize me), the fact is that this cow does not show fever. Just something pale mucous membranes and general thinning.
And Juan insists: - but, Doctor, what we inject the cow?

I proceed to take the cow a blood sample with anticoagulant (purple cap for hematology) and a generous sampling of feces in a glove and I answer Juan with a question: - How long the cow is so?. (always is important to know if the problem is acute or chronic, ie, short or long time course). John says, - Since two months it see this way Doctor, thin. And does not gain weight, I've injected antibiotics unsuccessfully. - Well John, do not despair, if it is 2 months so, why not wait one day more? I'll take these samples to my little lab at home and tomorrow I'm calling you to give directions. Luckily today exist mobile phones.

After laboratory tests carried out is that the hematology showed nothing outstanding, only marginal hematocrit values that together with the clinical examination suggests a moderate anemia. There were no protozoa or riketsia agents in the sample (Trypanosoma, Babesia, Anaplasma) but examination of stool reveals many kinds of parasites.

By McMaster technique these eggs are found, with a count of 2500 epg (eggs per gram of feces)

and the technique of Dennis (sedimentation qualitative) shows these heavy eggs:

It is important to note that an animal may be showing progressive thinning because many different conditions ranging from infectious, parasitic, toxic and nutritional. We see how often it seems that in our country the most frequently reported, often without reason, Trypanosoma vivax, the causative agent of trypanosomosis, commonly called “huequera, cacho hueco or Cachera”.

That's why I insist so much on looking at the signs presented by the animal, especially temperature, the behavior of the disease in the herd (Epidemiology), course of illness (acute or chronic), laboratory results and, if possible, necropsy findings. Are all these things together that will guide us on the diagnosis and not only one of them.

Finally, Mr. Juan recieved the recommendations and he said: - It is true, when you yourself go to the doctor, he order laboratory tests, why not for my cows?.

Well friends, here I leave then these results to see what you think of the case.