Important Diseases of Domestic Animals which effect on the economic position and bad effect on Animal Health

1. ACTINOBACILLOSIS
(WOODEN TONGUE)
Dr Nadir Hussain
DVM,UVAS Lahore

2. Definition
 infectious disease of ruminants
 caused by actinobacillus lignieresii
 inflammation of soft tissue of the head
especially tongue

3. Etiology
 Actinobacillus lignieresii
 gram-negative coccibacilli

4. Epidemiology
 worldwide in distribution
 sporadic occurrence on individual farms
 most instances --- occasional cases
 sheep flocks a morbidity rate up to 25%
 Rare in horses.

5. Source of infection and
transmission
 Actinobacillus lignieresii --- normal inhabitant of
oral cavity and rumen
 susceptible to ordinary environmental influences
 does not survive -- more than 5 days on hay or
straw
 Infection in soft tissues --- damage to the oral
mucosa.

6. Source of infection and
transmission
 ulcerating or penetrating lesions to sulcus of
tongue
 penetrating lesions in the apex
 lacerations to the side of the body of the tongue
 Actinobacillus granulomas on atypical sites
 external nares / jugular furrow
 Iatrogenic infection of surgical wound incision
 Infection of cheeks---bilateral

7. Pathogenesis
 Local infection --- acute inflammatory reaction
 development of granulomatous lesions
 necrosis and suppuration occur
 discharges of pus to the exterior

8. Pathogenesis
 Spread to regional lymph nodes
 Lingual involvement --- interfere
prehension and mastication

9. Clinical Findings
 onset of glossal actinobacillosis is usually acute
 unable to eat for 48 hours
 excessive salivation and gentle chewing of tongue
 tongue is swollen and hard---at the base
 tip normal
 Manipulation of tongue causes pain, resentment
 Nodules and ulcers on the side of the tongue

12. Clinical Findings
 later stages---acute inflammation --- replaced
fibrous tissue--- tongue ---shrunken and immobile
 interference with prehension
 Lymphadenitis is common
 enlargement of sub-maxillary and parotid nodes
 Local firm swellings ---- rupture --- discharge of
thin, non-odorous pus

13. Clinical Findings
 Healing is slow and relapse is common
 Enlargement of retropharyngeal nodes --- interfere
swallowing --- loud snoring respiration
 Cutaneous actinobacillosis --- granulomas ---
external nares, cheeks, skin, eyelid, hind limbs
 External trauma -- usual initiating cause.

14. Clinical Pathology/Diagnosis
 Purulent discharges --- sulfur bodies -- granular in
nature
 microscopic examination--club-like rosettes with
a central mass of bacteria
 Examination of smear or culture of pus---A.
lignieresii

15. Differential diagnosis
 Foreign bodies in the mouth
 Rabies
 Esophageal obstruction
 Tuberculosis
 Cutaneous Lymphosarcoma

16. Treatment
 Iodides --- standard treatment
 Oral or IV dosing of iodides
 Potassium iodide, 6-10 gm/day for 7-10 days,
given orally
 Treatment may continued until iodism develops

17. Treatment
 Lacrimation, anorexia, coughing, and appearance
of dandruff ---maximum systemic level of iodine
 NaI (70 mg/kg BW) IV 10-20% solution in one
dose
 One dose of potassium iodide or one injection of
sodium iodide is usually sufficient for soft tissue
lesions,
 acute signs in actinobacillosis disappear in 24-48
hours after treatment.

18. Treatment
 sulfonamides, penicillin, streptomycin, and the
broad spectrum antibiotics
 Streptomycin at 5 gm/day for 3 days IM -- good
results in actinomycosis -- when combined with
iodides and surgical treatment
 Isoniazid at 10 mg/kg BW orally or IM for 3-4
weeks with iodides