Difference between revisions of "Actinobacillosis - Cattle"

Revision as of 12:29, 27 July 2010

Also known as:

Wooden tongue

Description

An infectious disease caused by the gram-negative coccobacilliActinobacillus lignieresii. Characterised by inflammation of the soft tissues of the head especially the tongue and pharangeal lymph nodes of cattle and sheep. The Causal agent is widespread in the environment and gets into the tongue via small abrasions. It can be a progressive disease - low virulence but high persistence so the animal may stop eating and eventually die if not treated.

Signalment

Occurs in cattle and sheep of all ages but particularly seen in young beef breeds particularly sucklers on poor forage.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis can be made on history and clinical signs.

Clinical

Starts like foot and mouth disease - dull, salivating (if only one animal is unlikely to foot and mouth). - nearly always sporadic. The tongue feels like a big lump of wood especially the dorsal part of posterior 2/3rds.

This is often found in conjunction with small areas of ulceration on the side of tongue.

Pathogenesis

'Sulpher body' of Actinobacillosis (Courtesy of Alun Williams (RVC))

Very similar to Mandibular Osteomyelitis ("lumpy jaw").

Pathology

Fibrous Stroma - Cut Surface of actinobacillosis affected tongue (Courtesy of Alun Williams (RVC))

If cut into tongue, substance of tongue changed to fibrous stroma with raised red nodules. (2-3mm across).
This lesion is a pyogenic granuloma with central sulphur body.
Can spread from tongue to other tissues e.g. retropharyngeal lymph nodes and palate.
This type of lesion is caused by the host response to the pathogen, rather than directly a pathogen effect.

Other sites

Occasionally can see generalised infections but more commonly spreads to local lymph nodes of alimentary tract.
Organism can be inhaled causing actinobacillus pneumonia.
Can affect rumen wall.
In skin forms a neoplastic like mass in dermis.

Small granulomatous lesions containing 'sulfa granules' of large numbers of gram-negative rods

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Also known as: '''''Wooden tongue'''
+{{unfinished}}
-Caused by: '''''Actinobacillus lignieresii'''''
+{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
+| Also known as:
+| '''Wooden tongue'''
+|-
+|}
-==Introduction==
-[[Image:Woodentongue1.gif|thumb|125px|<small><center>Fibrous Stroma - Cut Surface of actinobacillosis affected tongue (Courtesy of Alun Williams (RVC))</center></small>]]
-An infectious disease caused by the gram-negative coccobacilli ''Actinobacillus lignieresii''. Characterised by inflammation of the soft tissues of the head especially the [[Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]] and [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|pharangeal lymph nodes]] of cattle and sheep. The causal agent is widespread in the environment and part of the normal commensal flora of the gastrointestinal mucosa, it gains access to the tongue via small abrasions. It can be a progressive disease of low virulence but high persistence so the animal may stop eating and eventually die if not treated.
-==Signalment==
+==Description==
-Occurs in cattle and sheep of all ages but particularly seen in young beef breeds especially sucklers on poor forage.
+An infectious disease caused by the gram-negative coccobacilli[[Actinobacillus lignieresii]]. Characterised by inflammation of the soft tissues of the head especially the [[Oral Cavity - Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]] and [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|pharangeal lymph nodes]] of cattle and sheep. The Causal agent is widespread in the environment and gets into the tongue via small abrasions. It can be a progressive disease - low virulence but high persistence so the animal may stop eating and eventually die if not treated.
-==Clinical Signs==
-Often begins like [[Foot and Mouth Disease|foot and mouth disease]]. Animals are dull, have difficulty [[Mastication|masticating]], are inappetent and  salivate profusely. The tongue is inflammed, hard and painful with small areas of ulceration along its sides.  Often the tongue is described like a lump of wood hence the name and may increase in size by up to 50%.
-In contrast to foot and mouth cases are nearly always sporadic.
+==Signalment==
+Occurs in cattle and sheep of all ages but particularly seen in young beef breeds particularly sucklers on poor forage.
-Occasionally generalised infections occur and the bacteria may affect soft tissue anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract including the [[Rumen - Anatomy & Physiology|rumen]], [[Reticulum - Anatomy & Physiology|reticulum]] and [[Oesophageal Groove|oesophageal groove]]. The lungs may become affected due to aspiration of the agent. The bacteria often spread from the site of infection to lymphatics, and may cause pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis.
+==Diagnosis==
+A diagnosis can be made on history and clinical signs.
-Additionally a cutaneous form of the disease has been reported where ulcers and nodules are present in the subcutaneous tissue containing yellow-green pus.
+====Clinical====
+*Starts like [[Picornaviridae#Foot and Mouth Disease Virus|foot and mouth disease]] - dull, salivating (if only one animal is unlikely to foot and mouth). - nearly always sporadic. The tongue feels like a big lump of wood especially the dorsal part of posterior 2/3rds.
+This is often found in conjunction with small areas of ulceration on the side of [[Oral Cavity - Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]].
-Sheep produce abscesses with thick walls.
+====Pathogenesis====
-Feeding is impaired causing loss of condition. Infection in the oesophageal groove can cause tympany and enlargement of the retropharyngeal lymph node, causing difficulty in swallowing and breathing.
-==Pathology==
 [[Image:woodentongue2.gif|right|thumb|125px|<small><center>'Sulpher body' of Actinobacillosis (Courtesy of Alun Williams (RVC))</center></small>]]
+*Very similar to [[Mandibular Osteomyelitis|Mandibular Osteomyelitis]] ("lumpy jaw").
-The tongue becomes fibrous with raised red nodules (2-3mm across) along the surface. This lesion is a pyogenic granuloma containing large numbers of the bacterial microcolonies surrounded by clublike spicules of calcium phosphate which look like sulphur granules.
-This type of lesion is caused by the host response to the pathogen, rather than directly a pathogen effect.
-Contamination of the environment occurs via ulcerating lesions.
+====Pathology====
+[[Image:Woodentongue1.gif|thumb|125px|<small><center>Fibrous Stroma - Cut Surface of actinobacillosis affected tongue (Courtesy of Alun Williams (RVC))</center></small>]]
-==Diagnosis==
+*If cut into [[Oral Cavity - Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]], substance of [[Oral Cavity - Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]] changed to fibrous stroma with raised red nodules. (2-3mm across).
-A diagnosis can be made on history and clinical signs, including induration of the tongue. Tissue sections may demonstrate pyogranulomatous foci containing club colonies. Gram negative rods may be present in smears from exudates.
+*This lesion is a pyogenic granuloma with central '''sulphur body'''.
+*Can spread from [[Oral Cavity - Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]] to other tissues e.g. retropharyngeal [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|lymph nodes]] and palate.
-The organism can be cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar, incubated for 24-72 hours. The bacteria on blood agar form small, sticky, non-haemolytic colonies. The MacConkey agar allows slow lactose fermentation.
+*This type of lesion is caused by the host response to the pathogen, rather than directly a pathogen effect.
-==Treatment==
-[[Antibiotics|Antibiotics]] are effective and [[Aminoglycosides#Streptomycin|streptomycin]] is recommended intramuscularly for 10 days. Animals that do not respond to treatment in two weeks should be slaughtered. Potentiated sulphonamides or a penicillin/streptomycin combination can be used.
-Sodium iodide parenterally, or potassium iodide orally have also been successful.
+=====Other sites=====
+*Occasionally can see generalised infections but more commonly spreads to local lymph nodes of [[Alimentary - Anatomy & Physiology|alimentary tract]].
+*Organism can be inhaled causing [[Actinobacillus lignieresii|actinobacillus pneumonia]].
+*Can affect [[The Rumen - Anatomy & Physiology|rumen]] wall.
+*In skin forms a neoplastic like mass in dermis.
-Rough feed should be avoided
-==Prognosis==
-If treatment is initiated early it is often successful however if treatment is delayed beyond 2 weeks the prognosis is much poorer.
-==Literature Search==
-[[File:CABI logo.jpg|left|90px]]
-Use these links to find recent scientific publications via CAB Abstracts (log in required unless accessing from a subscribing organisation).
+*Small granulomatous lesions containing 'sulfa granules' of large numbers of gram-negative rods
-<br><br><br>
-[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=%28%28title%3A%28%22wooden+tongue%22%29%29%29+OR+%28%28title%3A%28Actinobacillosis%29%29%29 Actinobacillosis/wooden tongue publications]
-==References==
-Andrews, A.H, Blowey, R.W, Boyd, H and Eddy, R.G. (2004) '''Bovine Medicine''' (Second edition), ''Blackwell Publishing''
-{{review}}
+[[Category:Tongue_-_Pathology]][[Category:Cattle]]
-[[Category:Tongue_-_Pathology]][[Category:Oral Diseases - Cattle]]
+[[Category:To Do - Caz]]
-[[Category:Bacterial Myositis]]
+[[Category:Sheep]]
-[[Category:Oral Diseases - Sheep]]
-[[Category:Brian Aldridge reviewing]]