Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E M Himes.
A tuberculous lesion was found in the prepuce of a 5-year-old tuberculin-positive herd bull at necropsy. Microscopic examination revealed granulomas with Langhans'-type giant cells; Mycobacterium bovis was isolated. The bull had been used in artificial insemination procedures and for natural breeding.
Four greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) died while maintained in captivity at a zoo. Necropsy revealed tuberculous lesions in the lungs, spleen, and thoracic lymph nodes. Histopathologic findings included granulomas with Langhans' giant cells, necrosis, and mineralization. Acid-fast organisms isolated from tissues of each kudu were identified as Mycobacterium bovis.
Tuberculous lesions were observed at necropsy of 2 East African oryxes (Oryx gazella beisa) at a municipal zoological park in Jackson, Ms. Microscopic examination revealed granulomas containing acid-fast bacilli in the lungs and liver of both animals, as well as in the uterus and mediastinal lymph nodes of 1 animal. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from the tissues of both oryxes and from fluid aspirated from the mammary gland of 1 oryx; the organism was pathogenic for guinea pigs but not for rabbits.
Five of 6 swine experimentally inoculated with Mycobacterium avium serotype 8 had microgranulomas in the cervical or mesenteric lymph nodes at necropsy 92 days later. In vivo tuberculin skin reactivity and in vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation responses were evaluated at 10 and 12 weeks after the pigs were inoculated. Positive responses were obtained on both tests in inoculated pigs, whereas test results in noninoculated pigs and pigs given killed bacterial cells were negative. Mycobacterium avium serotype 8 was isolated at necropsy from the cervical or mesenteric lymph nodes of each of the pigs inoculated with viable microorganisms and from the 2 pigs kept in the pen with inoculated swine. Mycobacteria were not isolated from tissues of the noninoculated swine or those given killed cells.
Mycobacterium avium was isolated from 21 of 23 lymph nodes with lesions collected from 23 brood sows and from 17 lymph nodes with lesions of 17 pigs slaughtered at an abattoir in north central Iowa. Mycobacterium avium serotype 2 accounted for more than 65% of the isolations in sows and in pigs. Granulomas with acid-fast bacilli were found in 15 of 23 tissues from brood sows and in 13 of 17 lymph nodes from pigs. Similar microscopic lesions were observed in the sows and pigs.
Mycobacteria were isolated from 195 of 200 lesions in lymph nodes identified as granulomatous by meat inspectors at 4 abattoirs in South Dakota. Mycobacterium avium serotypes 1 and 2 accounted for 89% of the isolants. Mycobacteria were isolated more frequently from lesions than acid-fast bacilli were observed on microscopic examination (P less than 0.001). The frequency with which mycobacteria was isolated was similar to the occurrence of granulomatous lesions. The numbers of the various kinds of mycobacteria isolated at each of the 4 abattoirs and for the 3 meat inspection disposition classes were not significantly different.
Mycobacteria other than mammalian tubercle bacilli are capable of producing disease in a wide range of animal hosts. Serotypes of Mycobacterium avium complex cause the most important mycobacterial diseases in domestic animals. Although disease is most common in lymph nodes, a wide variety of tissues may be involved, including tissue from spleen, liver, lungs, kidney, central nervous system, gall bladder, intestinal mucosa, skeletal system, ovaries, and the skin.
An enzyme-labeled antibody test was used for detecting antibodies in serums from chickens infected experimentally with Mycobacterium avium serotype 2. Positive ELA reactions were observed in the serums of each of 8 chickens 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after infection; no reactions were observed in uninfected controls. Tuberculin skin tests did not induce positive ELA test reactions in uninfected chickens.
Tuberculous lesions were observed at necropsy in the liver of 1 of 10 White-headed Tree ducks (Dendrocygna viduata) imported from Nigeria. Microscopic examination revealed granulomas with acid-fast bacilli; Mycobacterium avium serotype 3 was isolated. Two chickens inoculated intraperitoneally with the isolant had gross and microscopic granulomas in the liver at necropsy 62 days after inoculation. Isolants from chickens were serologically similar to the strain isolated from the duck.