Hemorrhagic septicemia is a bacterial disease of cattle and buffaloes caused by Pasteurella multocida. It is characterized by high fever, swelling of the throat and neck, difficulty breathing, and high mortality. The disease spreads through direct or indirect contact with infected or carrier animals. Stressful conditions like malnutrition, transportation, or pre-existing viral infections predispose animals to the disease. Vaccination is the primary control method.

1. HEMORRHAGIC
SEPTICEMIA
Dept. of CMS

2. Hemorrhagic septicemia
• Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is an acute
bacterial disease of cattle and buffaloes,
some times sheep, goats, and camels.
• It is clinically characterized by high fever
(>106-107 F), swelling at throat and neck,
severe dyspnea and depression, and high
mortality.
• It is one of the major diseases of cattle and
buffaloes in Asia (Pakistan), Middle-East,
Africa, and south Europe.

3. Etiology
• The HS is caused by Pasteurella multocida.
• HS has many serotypes, of which B:2 is more
common in cattle and buffaloes in Pakistan.
• The disease may be seen at any time of year
sporadically, but the worst epidemics occur
during the monsoon season, when there is
(stress of) high temperature and humidity.
• The organisms are easily killed by
disinfectants, dryness and sunshine but can
survive from hours to days in moist conditions.

4. Transmission
• The HS bacteria reside at naso-pharyngeal
region (tonsillar region) of buffaloes and cattle,
making them carriers of the disease
organisms.
• Approx. 5% of cattle and buffaloes are carriers.
• The disease organisms can be transmitted by
direct or indirect contact with the sick or
carrier animals, mainly through inhalation.
• It can also spread through contaminated feed
and water as well.

5. Predisposing factors
Stressful conditions are main predisposing factor.
1. Nutrition related stresses; e.g. anorexia,
starvation or lack of enough food, particularly,
during heavy rainy season or floods.
2. Fatiguing exercise or conditions; as long
distance transportation, heavy work load,
overcrowding and bad weather, etc.
3. Pre-existing viral infection (Parainfluenza-3);
which reduces the immune status, making
animals more prone to bacterial infections.

6. Clinical Signs
• The main signs of HS are mainly due inflammation of
throat and upper respiratory tract and septicemia.
• The incubation period is 3-5 days.
• In per-acute cases, the animal may found dead,
following a brief period of illness, within 8-24 hours.
• There will be severe depression and dullness, and
animals reluctant to move
• Swelling may be seen at the throat and neck; also,
sometime at brisket.
• There will be high fever (>106-107 F)
• There will be excessive salivation and serous nasal
discharge.

7. Clinical signs
 There will be difficulty in breathing, i.e. the
animal will breath with open mouth with tongue
protruded out, due to swelling at the throat.
 Severe congestion (redness) of all mucous
membranes and conjunctiva.
 Finally, the animal will go down and usually die
in recumbency within a couple of hours.
 The mortality rate is usually >80%.
 Occasionally, some cases may stay for several
days, but there is no chronic form of the
disease.

8. Depression, high fever and swelling
of throat are signs of HS

9. Difficulty in breathing and edema of
throat is common in HS

10. Mortality rate is high with
HS

11. Animal died due to HS, note the
edematous swelling of the throat region

12. Diagnostic evidences
The disease can be diagnosed by;
• History of stressful situations, i.e.
high environmental temperature and
humidity (e.g. Monsoon season),
• Clinical signs. i.e. high fever and
edematous swellings at throat
region, and rapid course of disease
(death).

13. Treatment
• The treatment should be given immediately using
Antibiotics (e.g. Tetracycline, Streptomycin-
Penicillin, Ampicillin and Chloramphenicol) by IM or
IV routes.
• Anti-inflammatory (Dexamethasone, Avil,
Mepyramine maleate, etc.) can be given to reduce
swellings and ease breathing.
• Antipyretics (Phenylbutazone, Flunixin meglumine,
Sodium salicylate, etc.), may be given to lower body
temperature.
• To reduce high fever, cold water, should be applied
on the body.

14. Control and prevention
• HS can be prevented by sticking to vaccination
schedule.
• The vaccine should be given at least one month
before the expected outbreak season (Monsoon).
• Three kinds of HS vaccines are widely used in
animals;
 Plain bacterins, to be repeated at 4 month
intervals.
 Alum-precipitated bacterins, given at 6 month
intervals.
 Oil-adjuvant bacterins, to be administered
annually.
NB: The oil-adjuvant vaccine has not been

15. Vaccination is key to control
HS

16. Control and prevention
• All HS outbreaks should be reported to the authority.
• Quarantine and movement controls during outbreaks.
• Tracing carriers and removing them from the herd.
• Cleaning and disinfection of the premises. Pasteurella
multocida is easily killed by common disinfectants.
• Good management, i.e. keeping the animals in good
condition reduces the risk of clinical disease and
carrier state.
• Avoiding stresses, as overcrowding, starvation, heavy
work or other stress causing conditions, especially
during monsoon.

17. Thanks