A study of Caseous lymphadenitis in goats from a smallholder farm in Ukraine

Abstract

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic infectious disease of a wide range of animal species around the world, which leads to abscesses in lymph nodes and internal organs. The aim of these studies was to characterize the Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolate obtained from infected goat from a smallholder farm in Ukraine. Clinical observation revealed two goats with concurrent external abscesses, fever, anorexia, and weight loss. Blood samples from the suspect animals were tested by ELISA. According to the obtained results, four (18.2%) from 22 sera samples were positive and one sample was questionable. C. pseudotuberculosis was isolated from the lymph nodes, liver, and lungs whereas the spleen, kidney, uterus, and udder did not show any growth. Finally, the obtained isolate was characterized both by biochemical tests and using multiplex PCR based on the detection of 16s rRNA, rpoB, and pld genes of C. pseudotuberculosis. Disease control should include elimination of infected and suspected animals from the herd, carrying out a comprehensive disinfection, and providing constant monitoring of the entire herd. Due to the absence of available data concerning the prevalence of CLA in Ukraine, further surveillance is required and an effective disease control strategy and eradication measures need to be developed