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Mycobacterium avium abortion in a sow
Veterinary Pathology
|May 1, 1979
Summary
Mycobacterium avium serotype 1 caused abortion in a sow. Despite anergy to skin tests, the sow showed an immune response, and the infection was widespread at necropsy.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Tuberculosis in swine can lead to reproductive failure.
- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections are increasingly recognized in various animal species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a case of abortion in a sow linked to Mycobacterium avium.
- To characterize the pathological findings and immune response in a sow with disseminated M. avium infection.
Main Methods:
- Gross and histopathological examination of aborted fetuses and necropsied sow tissues.
- Isolation and identification of Mycobacterium avium serotype 1 from clinical samples.
- Assessment of cellular immunity using in vitro lymphocyte stimulation tests and skin tests.
Main Results:
- Abortion of 11 fetuses in a 2-year-old sow was associated with Mycobacterium avium serotype 1 infection.
- The sow exhibited anergy to purified protein derivative skin tests but demonstrated M. avium-specific lymphocyte stimulation.
- Necropsy revealed disseminated granulomatous lesions in multiple organs, including reproductive tissues, with M. avium re-isolated from various tissues.
Conclusions:
- Mycobacterium avium serotype 1 can cause reproductive failure and disseminated disease in swine.
- In vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation may be a more sensitive indicator of cell-mediated immunity than skin testing in some cases of M. avium infection.
- This case highlights the potential impact of M. avium on swine reproduction and overall health.