The diagnostic activity on wild animals through the description of a model case report (caseous lymphadenitis by <i>Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis</i> associated with <i>Pasteurella</i> spp and parasites infection in an alpine ibex –<i>Capra ibex</i>)

Abstract

The diagnostic activity on wild animals implies a hard laboratory protocol where multiple disciplines, from biology to pathological anatomy until the biotechnological techniques, must be integrated to establish the causes of death. To demonstrate these concepts, the analytical approach adopted for an alpine ibex (Capra ibex) found dead in a mountain area of North Western Italy was described. The animal showed sub-costal and lymph nodes collections of greenyellow pus, fibrinous pleuropneumonia and catarrhal-hemorrhagic enteritis. Purulent process was ascribed to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis or pseudotuberculosis, pleuropneumonia to Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica and enteritis to Mannheimia haemolytica. Parasitic bronchopneumonia in the caudal lobes of the lung, a severe enteric infestation by gastro-intestinal and pulmonary strongyles and coccidia were found. The cause of death in the studied ibex appeared to be a consequence of an association between various pathological processes, with bacteriological and parasitic etiology.

First Report of Caseous Lymphadenitis by Corynebacterium pseudotubercolosis and Pulmonary Verminosis in a Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus, 1758) in Italy

“…Wild Caprinae species have been reported to be infected with CLA; for example, a captive population of Iberian Ibex in Spain showed a 19% positivity rate for C. pseudotuberculosis antibodies [26]. An Italian case study of CLA in Alpine Ibex with purulent collections in various lymph node groups (in particular, subcutaneous and mediastinal) [27] was followed by a comprehensive survey of 98 alpine chamois, which thoroughly described the disease in many different aspects [28]. Domenis et al (2018) [28] describe four different gross lesion distribution patterns, observed individually or variably combined in the same animal (cutaneous/external, abdominal visceral, thoracic visceral and generalized visceral).…”

“…Some evidence of CLA or C. pseudotuberculosis infections has been reported in other wildlife species, mainly ruminants: cervids, wild caprinae species and antelopes [25]. The majority of research has focused on wild caprinae, with numerous samples being analyzed [26][27][28]. On the other hand, the limited number of cervid studies counted few animals, describing both forms of CLA attributable to C. pseudotuberculosis [29][30][31][32][33] and extremely similar C. ulcerans infections [5].…”