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DIFFUSE FIBROSING ALVEOLITIS (DFA) DEFINITION DFA is a disease characterised by increased respiratory rate and depth of breathing and frequent coughing in bright, old, thin cows. INCIDENCE This is one of the two common chronic respiratory diseases of adult cattle, the other being chronic suppurative pneumonia. AETIOLOGY In many cases the precise cause of this syndrome cannot be determined but it is likely that DFA represents the end stage of several different disease processes, one of which maybe farmer*s lung.CLINICAL SIGNSA thin, bright cow that is eating well, with an increased respiratory rate and depth at rest. Coughing is frequent, harsh and non-productive. Breathing difficulty commonly develops after exercise and this may be the presenting sign. Terminally, severe cases become dull and develop congestive heart failure; they then become dull and develop other signs of congestive cardiac failure. |
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