A necrobacillosis case determined in a sheep herd

Abstract

In this study, cases of necrobasillozis detected in a sheep herd in Kars province are described.A total of 12 dead animals were noted in 2-4 month-old sheep in a herd containing 210 animals. Three of dead animals were brought to Kafkas University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department of Pathology for necropsying. Systemic necropsy was performed and tissue samples were collected for histopathological and microbiological investigations. On gross examination, yellow-white multifocal necrotic areas sizing up to 3 cm in liver of one animal, and up to 1 cm in lung of another animal were recognized. No gross lesions were detected in the third animal. In microscopic examination of these two animals in which lesions were detected, coagulation necrosis with central calcification and peripherally located crumbs of leukocyte nucleus were noted. In the animal with lung lesions, alveolar capillary hyperemia and mononuclear cells infiltration including neutrophil leukocytes were also detected. In microbiological analysis, samples were inoculated onto specific agars, incubated at aerobic, microaerobic and anaerobic conditions for 48 hours and finally colonies grown on anaerobic environment in Eugon agar and blood agar were evaluated. In inoculations made from the 2 lungs and 1 liver samples that were collected from different animals, colonies that produce large hemolytic areas were viewed. In gram staining, fusiform and gram (-) bacteria were named as Fusobacterium necrophorum. The results of the study indicate that necrobasillozis might be an important cause of death in lambs in Kars province. It was also concluded that death due to necrobasillozis might be seen in lambs with no apparent gross lesions.