VENEREAL DISEASES OF CATTLE 



I. Vesicular Exanthem. Aphthous Venereal Disease. 



The vesicular venereal disease of cattle is one of the most com- 

 mon and wide-spread of the entire group of venereal diseases of 

 animals. It is a highly contagious malady, transmitted ordin- 

 arily by copulation. 



The Symptoms are ver}- similar to those of the Genital Horse 

 Pox, already described. The first evidence of the disease in the 

 cow is an intense vaginitis, in which the mucous membrane of 

 the vulva and vagina become greatly injected and swollen, soon 

 followed by dark red points or petechiae, which quickly develop 

 into vesicles of very small size. These are at first transparent, 

 but may later become pustular, although they largely rupture 

 while yet in the vesicular stage. From these, very shallow ul- 

 cers result and give rise to a muco-purulent discharge, which col- 

 lects upon the tail and neighboring parts m the form of dry 

 crusts. 



In severe cases, the ulcers may acquire considerable depth, 

 with irregular borders, and, in healing, may temporarily leave a 

 stellate scar, though there is usually no prominent mark. In any 

 case, they tend to develop completely in a short time. The cow 

 expres.ses pain and irritation by stepping to and fro with the 

 hind feet and by movements of the tail. The act of urination is 

 painful and causes straining because of the irritant effect of the 

 urine upon the denuded mucous membrane. In some instances 

 there seems to be an excessive estrum. 



When very severe, the cow may show some difficulty in moving, 

 owing to the tenderness of the inflamed organs. Manipulations 

 of the swollen vulva cause very evident pain and the inflamed 

 mucous membrane bleeds very readily. The discharge from the 

 -vulva is somewhat parallel to the degree of ulceration in the vulva 

 and vagina. If excessive, it may become irritant and cause ex- 

 coriation of the parts with which it comes in contact. In very 

 severe cases, patches of the mucosa may become necrotic and 

 slough away. 



The infection may or may not prevent impregnation and, when 

 affecting a pregnant cow, it rarely causes abortion. The general 



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