Experimental Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis mastitis in dairy cows

Vet Rec. 2003 Dec 13;153(24):746-50.

Abstract

The inoculation of 2000 colony-forming units of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis into one teat canal of each of three cows resulted in severe, chronic, pyogranulomatous mastitis. Within three days the cows had a reduced haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration and red cell count. The anaemia was initially normocytic, normochromic and non-regenerative, and was associated with a brief peak of neutrophilia; a regenerative response became evident two to three weeks later. Clinical signs of mastitis appeared seven to 14 days after the inoculation, with a peak of high fever, more severe anaemia, a second peak of neutrophilia and the complete cessation of milk production from all quarters; extensive and severe pyogranulomatous mastitis developed in the inoculated quarters. No other lesions were detected postmortem, and C pseudotuberculosis was cultured from the affected quarters but not from the supramammary lymph nodes and viscera.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anemia / microbiology
  • Anemia / pathology
  • Anemia / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cell Count / veterinary
  • Corynebacterium Infections / blood
  • Corynebacterium Infections / microbiology
  • Corynebacterium Infections / pathology
  • Corynebacterium Infections / veterinary*
  • Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis / pathogenicity*
  • Female
  • Lactation
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / microbiology
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / pathology
  • Mastitis, Bovine / blood
  • Mastitis, Bovine / microbiology*
  • Mastitis, Bovine / pathology
  • Milk / cytology
  • Milk / microbiology
  • Neutrophils / pathology