Actinomyces bovis

• • • 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