Pathogenicity

PATHOGENICITY

Symptoms

  • Infections in animals generally occur when animals are kept in filthy, manure-laden surroundings.
  • Among the Fusobacterium only necrophorum regularly causes disease in animals.
  • It is frequently a secondary invader (e.g., liver abscesses in cattle often found with Corynebacterium pyogenes and is characterized by a necrotic process, commonly causing diseases collectively referred to as necrobacilloses and present as necrosis, abscess formation, and putrid odour (most common fermentation product is butyric acid).

Symptoms will vary according to the sites of the lesions.

Cattle

  • In foot rot – acute painful swelling of a hoof which leads to lameness.
  • Necrosis in digits spreads to tendons, ligaments and joints.
  • Calf diphtheria is more common in 3 to 18 months old.
  • Excessive salivation, purulent discharge from nose, coughing, temperature and loss of appetite and is found in necrotic foci in the mouth, larynx and trachea.

Sheep

  • Foot rot (interdigital dermatitis, infective bulbar necrosis and heel abscess), mouth lesions and abortions (rare).

Swine

  • Principal cause of bull nose or Ulcerative stomatitis via injury from fitting nose rings.

Cats

  • Opportunistic. Highly suppurative. Involves nasal passages, oral cavity and bone.
  • Secondary invaders to tissue damage.
  • Dental tartar leads to gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Last modified: Monday, 4 June 2012, 5:45 AM