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Brucella abortus-associated meningitis in aborted bovine fetuses
C B Hong1, J M Donahue, R C Giles
1Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
Veterinary Pathology
|November 11, 1991
Summary
Brucella abortus (B. abortus) infection caused granulomatous meningitis in bovine fetuses. This study details the pathological findings, including inflammation and bacterial presence, confirming B. abortus as a cause of fetal meningitis.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Bovine Infectious Diseases
- Neuropathology
Background:
- Brucella abortus (B. abortus) is a significant pathogen in cattle.
- Meningitis in bovine fetuses can result from various infectious agents.
- Understanding the specific pathologies induced by B. abortus is crucial for herd health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and characterize the neuropathological changes associated with Brucella abortus infection in bovine fetuses.
- To confirm the presence and localization of B. abortus within the fetal central nervous system.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of brain tissue from affected bovine fetuses.
- Immunohistochemical staining (avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex) to detect Brucella antigens.
- Microscopic identification of inflammatory cells and bacterial presence.
Main Results:
- Granulomatous meningitis was identified in 6 out of 33 fetuses infected with B. abortus.
- Inflammation involved lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages, with vasculitis noted in cerebral vessels.
- Gram-negative coccobacilli and Brucella antigens were detected within macrophages and other CNS tissues.
Conclusions:
- Brucella abortus is confirmed as a causative agent of meningitis in bovine fetuses.
- The observed pathology includes significant leptomeningeal inflammation and vasculitis.
- These findings highlight the potential for B. abortus to induce severe neurological disease in utero.