BATOG surveillance program
The BATOG surveillance program encourages producers to have their private vet investigate the causes of anaemia, jaundice and abortion in their cattle. Private vets are able to take select sample sets from eligible cattle for analysis by the DPIRD Diagnostic Laboratory Services (DDLS) at no cost to the producer. This sample set can be collected without the need to postmortem an affected animal.
The samples will allow for the diagnosis of local diseases while also providing evidence that WA is free from significant exotic diseases. This proof of freedom is crucial to maintaining market access and supporting the cattle industry. Information about local diseases in tested herds will enable producers to make decisions about herd management to improve productivity.
The diseases tested for will vary depending on if the animal is suffering anaemia, jaundice or abortion but will include:
- BATOG
- trace element imbalances
- milk fever
- leptospirosis
- bovine anaplasmosis (exotic to the Lower Great Southern)
- bovine babesiosis (exotic to the Lower Great Southern)
- Rift Valley fever (exotic to Australia and a risk to human health)
- trypanomiasis (exotic to Australia).
Sampling kits for private vets
DPIRD can provide private vets with sampling kits to aid in the collection of diagnostic samples. The kits include:
| 1 x foam esky | 1 x serum blood tube |
| 1 x EDTA blood tube | 1 x LiH blood tube |
| 4 x microscope slides | 1 x microscope slide mailer |
| 4 x dry swabs | 1 x Campylobacter ELISA media |
| 1 x Trichomonas media | 1 x Amies bacterial media/swab |
| 1 x viral transport media | 1 x instructions for Campylobacter and Trichomonas sampling |
| 1 x feed sample bag | 2 x 50mL yellow lid containers |
Laboratory samples
Cases of anaemia or jaundice require blood samples, blood smears and faeces. Cases of abortion require a more complete sample set.
| Sample | Collection vessel | Clinical syndrome | |
| Abortion | Anaemia or Jaundice | ||
| Blood | Red top tube (plain) | x | x |
| Purple top tube (EDTA) | x | x | |
| Green top tube (LiH) | x | x | |
| Fresh or stained smear x 2 | x | x | |
| Vaginal swab x 4 | Trich media (TRICH, white dot on lid) | x |
|
| Camp ELISA media (TEM, red dot on lid) | x |
| |
| Amies bacterial transport media | x |
| |
| Viral transport media (VTM on bottle) | x |
| |
| Faeces | 50mL yellow lid container | x | x |
| Feed | Sample bags | x |
|
| Ticks | 50mL yellow lid container | x | x |
To obtain a complete list of differential diagnoses, case criteria and testing procedures, contact your nearest DPIRD Field Veterinary Officer. A summary in-car guide is available in the Documents link on this page.