Fibrinous pleuropneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida associated with bovine lymphoma

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this work, we describe an unusual case of fibrinous pleuropneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida associated with generalized lymphadenomegaly in a bovine. The animal had a one-month history of generalized superficial lymphadenomegaly that progressed to anorexia and submandibular oedema, resulting in spontaneous death. At necropsy, the parenchyma of the lymph nodes and multiple organs was obliterated by a dense proliferation of round neoplastic cells (lymphoma). Additionally, the neoplasm presented multifocal areas of haemorrhage and necrosis, characteristic of lymphoma. The parietal and visceral pleura and parietal pericardium were enlarged and covered diffusely with large amounts of a yellowish fibrillary material. The lungs were mildly enlarged, non-collapsed, and firm and exhibited interlobular septae that were thickened with a gelatinous material. Histopathological examination showed that the parietal and visceral pleura were enlarged due to a diffuse and severe inflammatory infiltrate composed of degenerate neutrophils associated with severe fibrin deposition, characteristic of fibrinous pleuropneumonia. Pleura and parietal pericardium fragments were cultivated in aerobic and microaerobic microbiological conditions. Round greyish colonies of gram-negative coccobacilli that were shiny and non-haemolytic were observed in sheep blood agar. The biochemical profile was indicative of Pasteurella spp. Molecular identification was performed by partial 16S rRNA amplification following sequencing. Pasteurella multocida was confirmed as the primary bacterium associated with the bovine fibrinous pleuropneumonia. We are able to infer that the lymphoma caused immunodepression, which increased the animal’s susceptibility to atypical infectious microorganisms such as pathogenic P. multocida.