STUDIES ON CUTANEOUS SUPPURATIVE LYMPHANGITIS IN BUFFALOES AT ASSIUT GOVERNORATE-EGYPT

Fifty-Six (7.47%) cases of the total clinically examined buffaloes (750) showed cutaneous lesions on the different parts of the infected animal body. Distribution of the skin lesions on different regions of the animal body were described. The predominant clinical findings of the infected buffaloes were various sized cutaneous nodular eruption along the lymphatic vessels particularly in the limbs with and without regional purulent lymphadenitis, and without marked systemic involvement. Most of these cutaneous nodules were filled with pussy material and varied in number from a few to many. Twenty-seven cases (48.21%) of the diseased buffaloes with cutaneous nodular lesions showed enlargement of the regional lymph nodes. Sixty-seven (78.82%) of the bacteriological samples yielded Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in pure culture and 13 (15.29%) of samples yielded Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis associated with Staphylococcus aureus. Corynebacterium pseudo tuberculosis was overwhelmingly prominent bacterial isolates suggesting that this isolated pathogen was responsible for the observed suppurative skin lesions of the diseased buffaloes. Regarding the influence of the seasonal variation on the prevalence of the disease, it was found that the peak of infection (P <0.01) occurred during the hot-months (June, July and August). Results of the antibiotic sensitivity test showed that the cephalosporins had strong inhibitory effect (91.5% sensitivity) on the majority of the isolated strains. Therapeutic trials with the choice antibiotic were achieved and gave successful results particularly in infected buffaloes with closed small nodules. Surgical treatment with systemic suitable antibiotic was also effective in cases had cutaneous opened and closed suppurative nodules while in cases had marked purulent lymphadenitis, the therapeutic trials were not completely successful.