Pasteurella multocida pneumonic infection in goat: Hematological, biochemical, clinical and pathological studies

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to determine serum concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl and the main clinical, pathological and hematological features in goats having pasteurellosis naturally in comparison with healthy goats. This study was performed on 426 goats, of which 47 exhibited clinical signs of pasteurellosis, and 30 healthy goats. The prominent clinical signs included anorexia, dyspnea with head and neck strain and open mouth breathing, nasal discharge, coughing, dullness, and three goats died as well. In necropsy, fibrinous bronchopneumonia was the condition diagnosed in the goats. There were also congestion and hemorrhages in the lungs, liver, trachea, and the thoracic and peripheral lymph nodes. Microscopically, there were lesions in the form of severe bronchopneumonia with congestion of the interalveolar septa and the presence of inflammatory cells in the alveolus. The infective P. multocida was recovered at the sites of patient goats-heart blood, nasal mucosa, lung lesions, liver and lymph nodes. There were significant decreases in the Hb count and significant increases in WBC, immature neutrophils, mature neutrophils and monocytes counts in infected goats in comparison with healthy goats. In infected goats, the concentrations of Ca and Mg were significantly lower and the concentration of P was significantly higher than the healthy goats group. This study shows that Pasteurella causes disturbances in blood factors and electrolytes and leads to mild to severe injuries of the lung tissue. So when treating these animals, in addition to using drug combinations to repair and strengthen damaged immune system, one should pay attention to treating and balancing the level of ions in the blood serum in order to prevent further consequences.