[Clinical findings of cows who originated from dairy herds with chronic wasting disease]

Since Spring 1999, a number of dairy farms have reported problems with wasting in cattle. After calving, the physical condition of the cows deteriorated for reasons unknown. Chronic wasting is also associated with disorders such as lameness, abortion, endometritis, mastitis, and respiratory problems. Between April 1999 and March 2000, 19 cows were sent to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for further investigation of the chronic wasting. Clinical and pathological investigations resulted in a broad range of diagnoses such as mastitis, abomasal displacement, and claw disorders. The latter, characterised severe laminitis, were predominant and could explain a number of secondary symptoms (inflammation of the bursa, metastatic processes). There were no clear consistent changes compatible with a certain agent, with the exception of one case in which a virus was shown to be the causative agent. The results indicate that wasting disease is not a distinct entity but is characterized by a broad range of diseases in which acute laminitis may be the original problem. The disease profile of chronic wasting disease is very similar to that of 'concrete disease' described by Rebhun in 1995.