Granulomatous sub-dermal lesions in sheep inoculated with Dermatophilus congolensis

Dermatophilus congolensis was inoculated subcutaneously into 6 ewes and the resulting lesions were examined by light and electron microscopy. The organism was recovered from the subcutaneous lesions. The lesions were suppurative in the early stages and granulomatous in the advanced stage, but abscesses were the usual lesion observed. The granulomas were composed of several layers; central bacterial colony, neutrophil layer, layer of macrophages, epithelioid cells and Langhans and foreign body type giant cells with a periphery of connective tissue. Multiloculated granulomas were observed. Electron microscopic examination confirmed the cell types of the lesions. Epithelioid and giant cells were characterized by the shape and number of the nuclei and complex and abundant organelles. Interdigitations of the blunt pseudopodia of adjacent cells were also found. It is concluded that the organism can produce both granulomatous lesions and abscesses which differ from those of orthodox dermatophilosis but are similar to those described in "atypical dermatophilosis".