Caseous lymphadenitis: A case of sheep and its management in Ethiopia

Abstract

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a contagious and chronic bacterial disease of animals that affects the lymphatic system with the formation of abscesses. This case report documents a sheep diagnosed with CLA that was brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture (AAU-CVMA), Bishoftu on March 06/2022. The primary complaint was weakness, anorexia, and a slight, fluctuating, sickleshaped, enlarged swelling in the neck region between the ear and jaws, which developed due to a laceration by a wire on the fence. Physical and clinical examination revealed increased body temperature (40.7oC) and respiratory rate (44 breaths/min) and mildly fluctuating swelling on lymph nodes. Anorexia, coughing, general ill thrift, exercise intolerance, and enlargement of subcutaneous tissues and lymph nodes around the neck region were observed. Aspiration of the swelling revealed thick, pale greenish-cheesy pus. Using the Ethiopian Differential Diagnosis and Information Environment App-based diagnosis and bacterial culture of the pus revealed the case as CLA. It was managed by surgical removal of the pus, topical wound spray, and systemic administration of fortified procaine penicillin for five days intramuscular and once topically on the site, respectively. The sheep recovered after a month. In conclusion, CLA is a challenging suppurative disease of sheep and goats that can be successfully treated by topical wound management and systemic penicillin therapy.