Contents
The growth that appeared before the eyes of a cow does not bode well. Such formations in appearance resemble cauliflower. In fact, the cause of the appearance of such warts is bovine papillomavirus.
Bovine papillomavirus model looks like a ball
Causes of growths and bumps in the eyes of cattle
Among several hundred types of papillomaviruses, 7 are specific for cows. And only one of them affects exclusively the skin. Other types can form growths on the udder and cause benign tumors in animal tissues. Three types provoke cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and bladder. But the growths on the skin in the scalp are mainly the “merit” of the BPV-3 virus strain.
The disease is transmitted very easily. Slight damage to the skin is enough. Usually the first bump grows at the site of penetration of the virus into the skin. The calf can become infected from the mother while suckling milk.
The growths in the area of the head and neck appear due to the cows combing the skins on the fence of the corrals. There is also an opinion that cattle often become infected with papillomatosis during a watering place in an overgrown reed lake. This may occur due to microcuts of thin skin on the lips and sclera of the eyes by plant leaves. The causative agent of the disease is well preserved in the external environment. Since the incubation period is 2 months, the whole herd usually has time to become infected with papillomatosis.
Often, papillomas appear first on the eyelids due to the fact that cows scratch their eyes, trying to get rid of flies.
Not necessarily growths will appear on all cows. The ways of penetration of the virus into the body are known, but it is still not clear why and how papillomas appear.
Mostly young animals under 2 years of age suffer from papillomatosis. So the appearance of growths may be associated with the still fragile immunity of calves. In addition, cattle kept in unsanitary conditions are more likely to get sick.
It is believed that with skin growths, the virus is concentrated in the wart itself and is not spread by blood. But the appearance of bumps in different places of the cow’s body indicates the spread of the causative agent of papillomatosis with the bloodstream. It can settle in the tissues “necessary” to it, rapidly giving new formations.
The duration of the growth of skin formations is about a year. After that, the mature growth disappears, although the virus remains in the body. There is another way of development of papillomas. They appear one after another until the body develops resistance to the virus. Because of this diversity and the relative self-healing of cattle, there is ongoing debate about how to treat the virus. And about whether it needs to be treated at all.
Warts can be not only on the head and eyes, but also on the neck, back, sides and chest
Appearance
The growths caused by papillomavirus exist in 2 types: a bunch of small sticks attached to a thin stem, semicircular formations, the surface of which looks like a head of cauliflower. Skin growths in a cow belong to the second variety.
The surface of such cones is usually light to dark gray in color. Normally they should be dry. If the papillomas bleed or ooze with ichor, this means that the cow damaged them somewhere.
Skin growths of the second type, which have grown to indecent sizes, resemble an Alien’s nest rather than a cauliflower.
Treatment of growth in the eyes of a cow
In most cases, the treatment of warts involves their removal. Experts differ only in the methods and time of cutting outgrowths.
Georgia University veterinarians believe that papillomas should be removed as soon as they appear. And repeat the procedure until the bumps stop growing. That is, the cow will develop immunity. True, the removal of growths in front of the eyes can be difficult due to the location of the papillomas on the delicate eyelids.
The Merck & Co. veterinary textbook recommends waiting until the growths reach their maximum size or even begin to shrink. According to the author of this textbook, a wart can be removed only after its development cycle is completed. This theory has some basis. Practice shows that the removal of an immature build-up can cause the rapid growth of the following.
The most dangerous in cows are bumps on the eyes, because, growing too large, they can damage the cornea. And papillomas will appear again in these places. Animals scratch their eyes, damaging the skin of the wart and provoking the growth of education.
If the cow is already infected with papillomavirus, stimulation of the immune system will cause the warts to grow rapidly. It is difficult to explain what this is due to, since the owners of the affected animals have established this fact empirically.
Therapeutic vaccination
For the treatment of already existing growths, a vaccine based on BPV-4 E7 or BPV-2 L2 strains is used. It causes early regression of warts and their rejection by the body.
Animals whose warts have taken up too much body area are recommended to be sent for slaughter.
Preventive measures
Traditionally, preventive measures include compliance with veterinary and sanitary rules when keeping cows. Practice shows that this does not work well.
A more effective remedy is a preventive vaccine. Use it only on cows that do not yet have growths. The veterinarian can make the drug on the spot. The agent is a suspension of papilloma tissues. The virus is killed by adding formalin. A vaccine is effective if it is used against the same type of virus. This explains the need to manufacture it in “handicraft” conditions. The growth must be taken from a cow from the herd scheduled for vaccination.
Cows fed bracken are at risk of papillomavirus-associated cancer, but it does not affect the appearance of growths
Conclusion
If the growth is small in front of the cow’s eyes and does not interfere with her life, it is better not to touch the wart. Removing or attempting to burn out “folk” means can damage the eyeball. Papillomas should be removed only when they reduce the quality of life of animals, affect other important organs and cause discomfort.