Actinomyces bovis
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Actinomyces bovis is a species of the Actinomyces genus.
- Found naturally in oral cavity of cattle
- Prefers anaerobic conditions but not strict anaerobe
- Entry of organism into tissues following trauma to the mucosa from rough feed or tooth eruption
- Causes granulomatous inflammation of soft tissues and bone, causing lumpy jaw
- Usually invades mandible to cause osteomyelitis and may extend to surrounding muscles
- The lesions begins as a painless swelling of the affected bone
- Swelling becomes more painful and enlarges over a number of weeks, gaining fistulous tracts which discharge pus
- Organisms found in yellow sulphur granules
- Club colony formation
- Colonies adhere to agar media and are non-haemolytic
- Surgical treatment possible when lesions are small
- Prolonged parenteral penicillin treatment may be beneficial early in the disease