Abscesses and caseous lymphadenitis in goats in tropical semi-arid north-east Brazil

This study reports the incidence of abscesses in relation to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in goats in north-east Brazil. Among 656 goats examined periodically over almost two years 41.6% were found with superficially palpable abscesses. Most of the infected areas were in the anterior half of the body in front of the pre-scapular region; the inguinal region formed the other prominent area. Among 486 dead or slaughtered goats, 56 (11.5%) revealed abscesses in the internal organs. Lungs and epididymis were affected most, liver, spleen, udder and lateropharyngeal nodes were next in order and kidneys and mediastinal nodes were least affected. Thus the overall incidence of external and internal abscesses was 28.8%; of all the abscesses 27.7% were due to C. pseudotuberculosis and the rest due to infections of Corynebacterium pyogenes and several species of streptococci or staphylococci. The growth of C. pseudotuberculosis-infected and non-infected goats was of the same order and it seems that caseous lymphadenitis is not the cause of much financial loss in north-east Brazil but in view of its high incidence remedial measures should be considered necessary in regions where the goat meat industry is likely to become more intensive and important.