SPECIAL VETERINARY PATHOLOGY

BACTERIAL DISEASES OF
DOMESTIC ANIMALS

Dr. Manish Agrawal

Assistant Professor
Veterinary Pathology
STRANGLES
 Strangles

Synonym: Equine Distemper

Introduction:

Strangles is an acute infectious disease of young horses caused by

Streptococcus equi which is characterized by sudden onset of fever,
muco purulent inflammation of upper respiratory tract, followed by
swelling and abscess in pharyngeal and sub maxillary lymph nodes and
suppurative pneumonia. There may be presence of abscess on other
organs like liver, kidneys and spleen.
 Strangles

Etiology:
This is a bacterial disease caused by Streptococcus equi.

Transmission:
Inhalation is the most important route of infection. Ingestion is also
possible.

Pathogenesis:
Incubation period: 4 to 8 days.

The disease spreads through inhalation; the most important source of

infection is nasal discharge. The bacteria reach on pharyngeal and nasal
mucosa and causes acute pharyngitis and rhinitis.
 Strangles: Pathogenesis

Then the bacteria reach to local lymph nodes via lymph spaces where
they grow and produce toxins. Lymphoid tissue undergoes liquefaction
and necrosis leads to formation of abscess. Guttural pouches are filled
with pus.

Infection spreads in other organs and causes abscess in the lung,

kidney, liver, spleen, brain, tendon sheath and joints.

After an attack of strangles has subsided, purpura haemorrhagica (many

petechial or ecchymotic haemorrhages) may occur due to the
development of sensitivity to streptococcal protein.

Death may be due to septicemia and pyaemia.

 Strangles: Clinical Signs
High fever (104-107°F).

Oedematous swelling in pharyngeal region causes dyspnoea giving an

impression that the animal is strangling.

Pharyngitis and laryngitis with cough and difficulty in swallowing.

Abscess in the throat region discharging cream yellow pus.

Presence of anorexia, depression, dysponea and sneezing but there is

no swelling of face.
Younger horses seem to exhibit more severe clinical signs with lymph
node abscess formation and rupture, whereas older horses are often
less severely affected and recover more rapidly.
Strangles: Clinical Signs

Bilateral Nasal Discharge

 Strangles: Gross Lesions

Abscess in pharyngeal and sub maxillary lymph nodes.

Abscess in liver, kidneys, lung, spleen and brain may be seen.

Suppurative pericarditis, suppurative pneumonia and Empyema

(accumulation of pus).
 Strangles: Microscopic Lesions

Degeneration and necrosis in liver along with accumulation of

neutrophils.

Infiltration of neutrophils in liver, kidneys, spleen, pericardium and lungs.

Lymphoid depletion in spleen.

 Strangles: Diagnosis

Symptoms like bilateral nasal discharge and lesions where as unilateral

nasal discharge in the case of glanders.

Purpura haemorrhagica is a complication of strangles showing

subcutaneous oedema and haemorrhages.

Demonstration of organism in pus smears.

Immunological tests.
 Difference: Strangles and Glanders
S. No. Feature Strangles Glanders

1. Etiology Streptococcus equi Pseudomonas/ Actinobacillus/

Burkholderia mallei
2. Nature Acute Chronic

3. Lung lesions Lung lesions are not Lung lesions are tubercle like
tubercle like
4. Ulcer or nodule No ulcer or nodule Ulcerative nodule formation on
formation formation on skin skin

5. Nasal mucosa Nasal mucosa show Nasal Mucosa has nodules and
inflammatory changes ulcers
only
CONTAGIOUS BOVINE PLEUROPNEUMONIA
(CBPP)
 Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia

Introduction:

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is an sub acute or chronic

infectious disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoides and
characterized by diffuse pneumonia, pleurisy, “marbling of lung”,
sequestration and dilatation of lymph vessels.

Etiology:

This is a bacterial disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides.

 Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia
Pathogenesis:

The infection spreads through droplet infection. The recovered animals

act as source of infection at least for a period of 3 years.

After entering through respiratory tract, the organism sets up

inflammation of bronchioles. It may remain in retropharyngeal gland from
where it may spread in whole body.

The organism from bronchioles enters into interlobular septa and causes
inflammation followed by edema which causes dilatation and subsequent
thrombosis of lymph and blood vessels.
 Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia

Now, inflammation of the lung alveoli causes Croupous pneumonia

(pneumonia attended with deposition of fibrinous matter in the air
vesicles of the lung).

Thrombosis and well demarcated circumscribed necrosed areas

called sequestrum are produced.

During violent coughing, the fibrous capsule of the sequestrum rupture

releasing the organisms causing spread of infection and affected
animals become carrier. The carrier are also known as lungers.

Death occurs due to anoxia and toxaemia.

 Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia
Clinical Signs:

Fever, dry painful cough with laboured respiration.

Mucopurulent discharge from the nose.
Swelling of joints (Polyarthritis).
An affected animal often stands by itself in the shade, its head lowered
and extended, its back slightly arched, and its limbs turned out.
In many cases, the disease progresses rapidly, animals lose condition,
neck stretched while coughing and breathing becomes very laboured,
with a grunt at expiration.
The animals become recumbent (lie down) and in severe cases die after
1-3 wk.
 Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia
Gross and Microscopic Lesions :

Lesions are found only in thorax and usually limited to one lung.
Pleural cavity contained excess pleural fluid with adhesion of thoracic
wall.
Serofibrinous exudate in the thoracic cavity.
Serofibrinous pericarditis.
Lung parenchyma cut surface showed 'marbled appearance' due to the
infiltration of the interlobular septa by yellowish exudate.
Dilatation of lymph vessels in the lungs.
Later, zone of necrosis with sequestration surrounded by dense
connective tissue.
 Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia
Gross and Microscopic Lesions :
Thickening of alveolar septa due to serofibrinous exudate.
Consolidation of lung due to thickening of outer alveolar septa.
Abscess formation with infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells.
Separation of the lobules into distinct compartments by the heavily
thickened interlobular septa.
Infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells is seen around blood vessels
and bronchi.
Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia

A typical CBPP infected cattle lung cut open to reveal

the marbled appearance: (a) Pneumonia and pleurisy
(b) hepatization (c) thickened interlobular septae
 Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia
Diagnosis:
Symptoms and Lesions.

Isolation of organism.

Immunodiagnostic tests for demonstration of antigen/ antibody using

ELISA.

Demonstration of organisms in tissue sections using immunoperoxidase

technique.
CONTAGIOUS CAPRINE PLEUROPNEUMONIA
(CCPP)
 Contagious Caprine PleuroPneumonia
Introduction:

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is an infectious disease

of goats caused by Mycoplasma mycoides var capri and characterized
by catarrhal inflammation of upper respiratory tract, unilateral or bilateral
pleuropneumonia, pleurisy and pericarditis.

Etiology: Mycoplasma mycoides var capri

Pathogenesis:

The disease is readily spread by inhalation but organism does not

survive for long period out side the animal body and its pathogenesis is
just like CBPP.
 Contagious Caprine PleuroPneumonia
Clinical Signs:

CCPP is strictly a respiratory disease. Peracute, acute and chronic forms

may be seen in endemic areas.
 Peracute Form: Affected goats can die within 1 to 3 days with minimal
clinical signs.
Acute Form: The initial signs are very high fever, lethargy and anorexia,
followed within 2 to 3 days by coughing and laboured respiration.
In the final stages of disease, the goat may not be able to move and
stands with its front legs wide apart, and its neck stiff and extended.
 Chronic Form: It is characterized by a chronic cough, nasal discharge,
and debilitation.
Nasal discharge which is watery in early stages and later on converts
into mucopurulent discharge.
 Contagious Caprine PleuroPneumonia
Gross and Microscopic Lesions :

Rhinitis and catarrhal inflammation of upper respiratory tract.

Unilateral or bilateral fibrinous pleuropneumonia.
Edema and congestion of bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes.
Marbling is not marked and sequestration is not a feature.
Pleurisy with gelatinous exudate.
Fibrinous pericarditis.
Congestion and consolidation of lungs.
Adhesion of lungs with pleura.
Congestion, infiltration of mononuclear cells in inter alveolar spaces,
formation of lymphoid aggregates.
Deposition of fibrin in alveoli.
Oedema and congestion in lymph nodes.
 Contagious Caprine PleuroPneumonia
Diagnosis:

Symptoms and Lesions.

Isolation of organism.

Immunodiagnostic tests for demonstration of antigen/ antibody using

ELISA.

Demonstration of organisms in tissue sections using immunoperoxidase

technique.

Subcutaneous inoculation of lymph into healthy goats results in

oedematous local swelling.
 Difference: CBPP and CCPP
S. No. Feature CBPP CCPP

1. Nature Sub acute to Chronic More acute

2. Host Cattle and Buffaloes Goats

3. Involvement of Upper Less pronounced More pronounced with rhinitis

Respiratory Tract and nasal discharge
4. Pneumonic Lesions Diffuse Focal

5. Marbling of Lungs Prominent Less common

6. Sequestration Characteristic feature Not Characteristic feature

7. Pericarditis Not present Common finding

8. Exudate in chest Less and does not clot More and tends to clot
cavity
Objective Questions
 Objective Questions

Q. Ulcerative nodule formation on skin are found in:

A. Strangles
B. Glanders
C. CCPP
D. CBPP

Answer: Glanders
 Objective Questions

Q. Which disease is also known as Equine Distemper:

A. Strangles
B. Glanders
C. CCPP
D. CBPP

Answer: Strangles
 Objective Questions

Q. Marbling of lungs is characteristic feature of:

A. Strangles
B. Glanders
C. CCPP
D. CBPP

Answer :CBPP
 Objective Questions

Q. Oily nasal discharge is characteristic feature of:

A. Strangles
B. Glanders
C. CCPP
D. CBPP

Answer: Glanders