The influence of micro-organisms on the severity of lesions in chronic pneumonia

Authors: Clarke JK, Alley MR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 25, Issue 8, pp 200-202, Aug 1977
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Pneumonia/pleurisy, Respiratory system
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: The degree to which histopathological lesions correlated with the numbers of M. ovipneumoniae and bacteria was studied in sixty 6 to 9 month-old lambs with chronic and subacute pneumonia slaughtered at a local meatworks. Large numbers of M. ovipneumoniae were associated with chronic proliferative changes such as peribroncbiolar fibrosis and alveolar interstitial thickening. The combined effect of large numbers of M. ovipneumoniae and bacteria were associated with neutrophilic exudation and epithelial hyperplasia. However, lympboid hyperplasia and excess mucus production were associated with low bacterial titres. There was no direct correlation between the numbers of M. ovipneumoniae and bacteria present in the pneumonic lungs.

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