Toxaemia:

• Toxaemia is a clinical systemic state caused by widespread activation of host defence mechanism to presence of toxins produced by bacteria or injury to tissue cells.
• It doesnot include disease caused by toxic substances produced by plants or insects or ingested organic or inorganic poisons.
• Most common form of toxaemia in large animals is endotoxaemia. It is caused by the presence of LPS of gram-ve bacteria in blood and characterized clinically by abnormalities of many body systems.
• Abnormalities of endotoxaemia includes:
  • Marked alterations in cardiopulmonary function
  • Abnormalities in leukon (neutropenia and lymphopenia) and thrombocytopenia that may lead to coagulopathies
  • Increased vascular permeability
  • Decreased organ blood flow and metabolism, leading to heart and renal failure
  • Decreased gastrointestinal motility
  • Decreased perfusion of peripheral tissues
  • High case fatality rate

Etiology:

• Bacterial infection: coli, Pasteurella spp, Histophilus somni
• Exotoxins produced by Clostridium sps
• Enterotoxins produced by E. coli affecting intestine
• Endotoxins as found in coliform mastitis
• Coliform septicemia in calves
• Metabolic toxins produced due to incomplete elimination of toxic materials produced by body