 |
GEDEMARK |
 |
Actinomycosis |
In Humans
Actinomyces is a bacteria that has branching forms, resembling the hyphae of fungi. It is anaerobic but is a commensal in the mouth, hiding in the 'nooks and crannies', particularly if there is poor dental hygiene. Lung infection results after trauma, dental surgery or aspiration. The infection crosses tissue boundaries and is characterized by sinus formation. The branching form of the bacterium allows it to be recognized by the presence of 'sulphur granules', masses of hyphae, in the pus. A typical presentation is involvement of lung and chest wall with rib osteomyelitis.
In Goats
Actinomyces causes those nasty looking abscesses along the side of the jaw. My immediate reaction to seeing this type of abscess the first time was to treat it like CL. The doe was quarantined until she could be taken to the vet to get the contents of the abscess cultured.
Drawing a sample from the abscess was simple. The vet inserted a needle [green top], without the syringe, and lightly squeezed the abscess until the needle was full. After that, she lanced it by cutting it open, completely drained it and then flushed it with a syringe of iodine. By the time the culture results came back and confirmed Actinomyces rather than CL, the doe had healed enough to go back out with the herd.
This particular abscess differed from the CL abscess because it was NOT located over a lymph node. If an abscess appears very near the hinge of the jaw, it is much more likely to be CL than Actinomyces.
Important
This information is provided as a service and made available by Idea Factory, Inc.. Idea Factory, Inc. is not responsible for any damage, injury, death, etc from the use, misuse, or accuracy of this information.
|
