Bleeding disorder in a Holstein calf comparable to bovine neonatal pancytopenia

Abstract

The clinical findings associated with a bleeding disorder, suspected to be an immune mediated pathogenesis comparable to bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP), in a 14-day-old Holstein calf are summarised. The clinical examination, clinical laboratory findings, treatment, postmortem findings and referral laboratory diagnostics are reported and discussed in relation to existing knowledge of bleeding disorders in cattle. Veterinary attention was required for a twin 14-day-old Holstein calf that was lethargic, weak and had pale mucous membranes. On clinical examination the calf was tachycardic had pale mucous membranes with petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages on the ventral surface of the tongue, petechial haemorrhages on the vulval membranes and scleral haemorrhage. The calf received 1.1 L of whole blood from a donor cow to which the calf initially responded. The calf's health appeared to wax and wane over the following 19 days and despite further intervention, the calf died. A postmortem was carried out and samples were submitted to the state laboratory for cytological, histopathological, parasitological and serological examination. Although no exact aetiology was found, there is evidence to suggest that the bleeding disorder was immune-mediated, with a pathogenesis comparable to BNP. To the author's knowledge, this case report is the first peer-reviewed manuscript to describe the clinical presentation similar to BNP in an Australian Holstein calf.