LUCRĂRI ŞTIINłIFICE MEDICINĂ VETERINARĂ VOL. XLII (1), 2009, TIMIŞOARA

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BRAXY (BRADSOT) IN LAMBS – A CASE REPORT

ŞERBESCU MARIA1, V. HERMAN2, CORINA PASCU2, N. CĂTANĂ2, B. FAUR2, IOANA VĂDUVA2

1Veterinarian Laboratory of Timis County

2Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Timisoara

Summary

In the paper is presented one case of braxy in a farm from Timis county, where many lambs around the age of 4 weeks died. The diagnosis was established by corroborating the results of the lesions and laboratory exams.

Key words: braxy (bradsot), Cl. septicum.

Braxy (abomasitis caused by Cl. septicum) is a specific disease of sheep and goats, which usually evolves sporadically. Its existence hasn't been confirmed yet with certainty in our country (2, 3). It has been suggested that ingestion of frozen herbage may cause devitalization of abomasal tissue, thus allowing the invasion of Clostridium septicum, the etiological agent of the disease. The evolution is rapid and most animals die without premonitory signs. Anorexia, depression and fever may be evident immediately before death (4).

Materials and methods

The study was carried out on a 4 weeks lamb, which comes from a sheep

herd that has recorded high mortality rate in lambs with good maintenance in the last week (one per day). Pregnant ewes have been vaccinated against anaerobiosis with an anti Cl. perfringens vaccine, but not with an anti Cl. septicum vaccine (5).

The examination of the lamb was done to observe necropsy findings. Subsequently samples from the organs with lesions were taken for further laboratory examination. The identification of the bacteria was possible after the isolation by smear from abomasal wall or by culture from organs (1, 3, 4) using special media for this anaerobe (VF broth with tioglicolic acid and Veillon gelose).

Results and discussions

The necropsy revealed specific and unspecific lesions. The abomasum

showed obvious hemorrhagic areas through its wall and a necrotizing hemorrhagic inflammation of the mucosa (fig. 1).

LUCRĂRI ŞTIINłIFICE MEDICINĂ VETERINARĂ VOL. XLII (1), 2009, TIMIŞOARA

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Fig.1. Gross lesions

There was also observed gas accumulation in the subserosa of the small intestine. The heart presented septicemic lesions such as subepicardial petechiae. Unspecific lesions were also observed in the subserosa of other organs (liver, spleen, lungs).

After growth in anaerobic conditions on VF broth, a pure and abundant culture of Cl. septicum was obtained, with a high turbidity and gas production. On Veillon gelose the colonies were circular, glossy and semitransparent.

Short and large gram positive rods were observed in cultures (fig. 2) and from abomasal and intestinal mucosa.

LUCRĂRI ŞTIINłIFICE MEDICINĂ VETERINARĂ VOL. XLII (1), 2009, TIMIŞOARA

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Fig.2. Clostridium septicum smear from culture

Conclusions

It was diagnosed braxy (bradsot) in a sheep herd from Timis County,

where the disease produced important losses due to the infant mortality in 4 weeks lambs.

The diagnosis was suspected on the basis of the case history and main lesions and confirmed by laboratory tests.

References

1. Herman, V., Moga Mânzat, R., RămneanŃu, M., Diagnosticul în bolile

infecŃioase ale animalelor, Ed. Mirton, Timişoara, 2008. 2. Moga Mânzat, R., Boli infecŃioase ale animalelor – bacterioze, Ed. Brumar,

Timişoara, 2005. 3. Quinn, P.J., Markey, B., Carter, M.E., Donnely, W. J., Leonard, F.C.,

Veterinary Microbiology and Microbial Disease, Blackwell Science Ltd., Padstow, Cornwall, 2002.

4. Radostits, M.O., Gay, C.C., Blood, D.C., Hinchcliff, K.W., Veterinary Medicine. A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, pigs, Goats and Horses, 9th Edition, W. B. Saunders Company Ltd, London, 2000.

5. Cătană, N., Herman, V., Necşulescu, M., Fodor, Ionica, Lucr. Şt. Med. Vet. Iaşi, 2006, 49, 809-815.