Caseous Lymphadenitis in sheep and goats – “Cheese Glands”

• Published in: Veterinarska stanica Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 303 - 316
• Main Authors: Reil, Irena, Zdelar-Tuk, Maja, Špičić, Silvio, Duvnjak, Sanja, Dopuđ, Maja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 23.10.2024
• ISSN: 0350-7149; 1849-1170
• DOI: 10.46419/vs.56.3.8

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic infectious disease that affects small ruminants and is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. This highly contagious pathogen leads to significant economic losses in the livestock industry due to loss of productivity, rejection of carcasses, and increased veterinary costs. CLA is characterised by the formation of abscesses in lymph nodes and internal organs. Rupture of these nodes can lead to additional contamination of the environment and further transmission. Diagnosis of CLA involves clinical examination, bacterial cultures, serological testing, and advanced molecular techniques for more accurate detection. Treatment options are limited and often ineffective as the pathogen can survive in abscesses and evade the host's immune response. Antibiotic therapy can provide temporary relief but does not eliminate infection, emphasising the importance of prevention measures. Control strategies focus on biosecurity, culling infected animals, and vaccination. While currently available vaccines reduce the incidence and severity of the disease, they do not provide complete immunity and need to be further improved. Understanding the virulence mechanisms of the pathogen and the interactions between the host and pathogen is crucial for the development of more effective vaccines and therapeutic approaches. Ongoing research and new ideas are crucial to reduce the impact of CLA on animal health and the farm economy. This emphasises the need for comprehensive management strategies, including strict hygiene measures, regular checks, and targeted vaccination plans. In addition, due to its zoonotic potential, C. pseudotuberculosis can contaminate meat and milk from infected animals, posing a risk to consumers. The ability of the pathogen to infect both animals and humans emphasises the importance of research into its prevention and diagnosis. Kazeozni limfadenitis je kronična zarazna bolest koja zahvaća male preživače, a prouzročena je bakterijom Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Zbog svoje visoko kontagiozne prirode, prouzroči znatne ekonomske gubitke u stočarstvu zbog smanjene produktivnosti, odbacivanja trupova i povećanih veterinarskih troškova. Bolest je karakterizirana stvaranjem apscesa u limfnim čvorovima i unutarnjim organima, koji nakon što puknu, uzrokuju kontaminaciju okoliša i dovode do daljnjeg širenja bolesti. Dijagnoza bolesti uključuje: klinički pregled, bakterijsku kulturu, serološke testove i napredne molekularne metode za preciznije otkrivanje bolesti. Opcije liječenja su ograničene i često neučinkovite zbog sposobnosti patogena da preživi unutar apscesa i izbjegne imunološki odgovor domaćina. Terapija antibioticima može pružiti privremeno olakšanje, ali ne eliminira infekciju, naglašavajući važnost preventivnih mjera. Strategije kontrole bolesti usmjerene su na biološku sigurnost, klanje zaraženih životinja i cijepljenje. Trenutno dostupna cjepiva, iako smanjuju učestalost i težinu bolesti, ne pružaju potpunu zaštitu i zahtijevaju daljnja istraživanja. Razumijevanje virulentnih mehanizama patogena i interakcije domaćin-patogen ključno je za razvoj učinkovitijih cjepiva i liječenje. Kontinuirana istraživanja i nove ideje su ključne za smanjenje učinaka kazeoznog limfadenitisa na zdravlje životinja i stočarstva. To naglašava potrebu za sveobuhvatnim strategijama kontroliranja bolesti, uključujući stroge higijenske mjere, redovite preglede i ciljana cijepljenja. Nadalje, zbog zoonotskog potencijala, C. pseudotuberculosis može kontaminirati meso i mlijeko zaraženih životinja, što predstavlja rizik za potrošače. Sposobnost patogena da inficira životinje i ljude pridodaje važnosti za daljnja istraživanja metoda prevencije i dijagnoze.