Histopathological evaluation of disseminated intravascular coagulation in Haemophilus somnus infection in cattle

The frequency and distribution of fibrin thrombi (microthrombi) in the main organs of spontaneously infected cattle were investigated to evaluate disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in Haemophilus somnus infection. This infection is well known as infectious thrombo-embolic meningo-encephalitis (ITEME) and is characterized histopathologically by formation of thrombi, necrosis of blood vessels and neutrophil infiltration. The precise pathogenic mechanism of this disease has not yet been fully elucidated. The liver, spleen, kidney, lung, heart and brain of 11 cattle showing thromboembolic meningo-encephalitis were examined histopathologically and special attention was paid to fibrin thrombi. PTAH staining showed a high frequency of fibrin thrombi in the small vessels and capillaries in more than 3 organs and all the cases were regarded as falling within the histopathological criterion of DIC. The results of the present study indicate that the pathogenesis of the infection is closely related to the DIC.