La fibrosis hepática congénita (FHC) es una alteración del desarrollo hepático poco frecuente en bovinos, causada por una embriogénesis anómala del sistema biliar. La falla en el remodelado de la placa ductal provoca la persistencia de conductos biliares embrionarios, venas porta aberrantes y marcada fibrosis portal, lo que compromete la función hepática y puede generar ascitis, ictericia o encefalopatía hepática. En agosto de 2024, se recibió en el Laboratorio de Patología Especial Veterinaria de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, una muestra de hígado de un ternero Holando Argentino hembra, muerto dentro de las primeras 12 horas de vida. El estudio microscópico reveló desorganización del parénquima, fibrosis difusa, proliferación de conductillos biliares, dilatación sinusoidal, atrofia hepatocelular y colestasis. Con base en estos hallazgos y la edad del animal, se diagnosticó FHC. Este representa el segundo caso documentado en bovinos en Argentina, destacando su rareza. El diagnóstico diferencial incluye hepatitis infecciosas fetales, cardiopatías congénitas y fibrosis adquirida por hepatotóxicos. La identificación genética de la enfermedad podría contribuir a estrategias preventivas y reproductivas en rodeos.

Feedlot with 3,700 animals. About 20 animals died in one month (December 2023). In January 2024, 7 new animals died within 2 days, prompting a visit to the establishment. On physical examination, clinical signs included apathy, lethargy, marked ptyalism and sialorrhea, watery diarrhea, and dyspnea with superficial tachypnea. The affected animals often adopted a kyphotic posture and refused to move when stimulated (Fig.1). Clinical signs began 15 to 45 days after arrival at the feedlot. Treatments with tilmicosin, tylosin, florfenicol, and tulathromycin were administered without a favorable response. The cattle had been fed a low-fiber, high-cereal diet containing monensin.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between colostrum quality, as indicative of the immune status of the cows, and peripartum disease risk occurrence in a herd of grazing dairy cows. A prospective cohort study was conducted on a grazing dairy farm with 3000 Holstein milking cows from 15 March 2022 to 15 March 2023. Multivariable binary logistic models evaluated the association between colostrum quality (expressed in Brix grades as a continuous predictor) and the risk of peripartum diseases (including dystocia, stillbirth, retention of fetal membranes, metritis, and clinical endometritis). We found that colostrum quality was negatively associated with the risk of dystocia (p = 0.02), stillbirth (p < 0.01), clinical endometritis (p = 0.02), and total peripartum diseases (p < 0.01). Conversely, colostrum quality was not related to the risk of retention of the placenta (p = 0.25) or metritis (p = 0.76). Additionally, we found that the calving season affected colostrum quality (p < 0.01). Conversely, parity number, dry period length, and milk yield in previous lactation did not affect it (p > 0.10). We concluded that colostrum quality, expressed in Brix grades, is negatively associated with peripartum disease risk in dairy cows and could be a useful indicator of the immune status of the cow.