CORYNEBACTERIUM PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF GOATS MAMARY GLAND

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to describe some aspects of the pathogeny of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, isolated from a natural case of caseous lymphadenitis. The study was comprised with 2 groups of 3 animals each; inoculated with a C. pseudotuberculosis strain, group 1 (GI) via intra dermal and group 2 (GII) via the mammary gland. The animals were clinically examined on a daily basis and hemograms carried out over a period of time at different intervals. Only 2 animals from GII showed changes in the clinical examination characterized by hyperthermia. All the animals in both groups developed papule and edema at the inoculation site. There were no significant alterations in the erythrogram but in the leucogram there was leucocytosis indicated by the presence of neutrophilia in 2 animals from GII. Results of the cellular analysis of the gland showed that 2 animals from GII developed acute mastitis. This experiment has proven that C. pseudotuberculosis, isolated from a natural infection of caseous lymphadenitis, could cause clinical mastitis, losses in goat keeping and that the expression cytology test could be used as an alternative diagnosis for mastitis.