Emphysematous abomasitis in a lamb by bacteria of the Sarcina genus in Southern Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Abomasal bloat associated with Sarcina genus bacteria is a rare condition reported in young ruminants. An outbreak characterized by the sudden death of eight lambs from a total of 80 lambs (30 days-old) occurred on a property located in the city of Palmares do Sul in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Deaths began to occur after the introduction of supplementation into the diet of lambs. At necropsy, the abomasum was distended by gas and had diffusely thickened walls and emphysema. On microscopic examination, the abomasum showed marked diffuse emphysema and multifocal areas of mild superficial necrosis with many coccoid structures measuring approximately 2µm in diameter, arranged in tetrads, compatible with Sarcina genus bacteria. After removing supplementation from the diet, no more deaths occurred. The diagnosis of this case was established by gross and microscopic lesions in addition to the clinical and epidemiological findings. Therefore, it was concluded that it was an outbreak of emphysematous abomasitis by Sarcina genus bacteria in lambs.