Caseous Lymphadenitis Caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in Alpine Chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra): a Review of 98 Cases

Publication date: May 2018Source: Journal of Comparative Pathology, Volume 161Author(s): L. Domenis, R. Spedicato, E. Pepe, R. Orusa, S. RobettoSummaryCorynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in domestic and wild ruminants. Here we describe CLA in alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) based on a series of 98 cases of C. pseudotuberculosis infection confirmed by bacteriology and gene sequence analysis. The population included 53 males and 45 females distributed within three age groups: up to 18 months (n = 14), 18 months to 4 years (n = 11) and over 4 years (n = 73). Four different gross lesion distribution patterns, observed individually or variably combined in the same animal, were defined: (1) cutaneous/external (i.e. subcutaneous lymph nodes with or without muscle involvement, n = 34); (2) abdominal visceral (i.e. only abdominal organs involved: liver and/or spleen and/or kidney and/or lymph nodes, n = 35); (3) thoracic visceral (i.e. only thoracic organs involved: lung and/or heart and/or lymph nodes, n = 26); and (4) generalized visceral (i.e. abdominal and thoracic organs involved, n = 26). In six particularly severe cases, mammary gland, testis, vertebral bone and the central nervous system were also affected. Macroscopically, most abscesses were characterized by fluid pus, confirmed by microscopy that showed the absence of distinct concentric layers and coagulative necrosis, which are typically seen in sh...
Source: Journal of Comparative Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research