Caseous Lymphadenitis in Goats: The Pathogenesis, Incubation Period and Serological Response after Experimental Infection

Abstract

Twenty goats, in two groups of 10, were injected intradermally with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. The doses of infection were 1×10⁵ and 5×10⁴ colony-forming units (cfu) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Thereafter, a goat from each group was killed every 2–3 days and examined for gross and microscopic caseous lesions in the draining lymph nodes. Bands or zones of macrophages and polymorphonuclear granulocytes were observed microscopically on the second day of infection in both groups. Gross caseous lesions were observed from days 8 and 9 of infection, respectively. Positive bacterial agglutination test and haemolysis inhibition test titres were detected after 15–17 days and 20–25 days of infection, respectively. These results indicated that caseous lymphadenitis is a subacute disease with an incubation period of 8–9 days, but that it is not detectable serologically until after 15 days of infection.