How is actinomycosis in deer diagnosed and treated? Seven cases of experience shared
Actinomycosis is also known as Lumpyaw. The pathogens of this disease are Actinomyces bovis and Actinobacillus lignieresii. It is a non-contagious chronic infectious disease of livestock, wild animals and humans, commonly occurring in ruminants such as cattle, sheep and deer. The characteristic symptoms of the disease are actinomycotic lumps on the head, neck, submandibular region and tongue, causing difficulty in breathing, swallowing and chewing, rapid weight loss, skin suppuration and ulceration, and formation of fistulas that do not heal for a long time. From July 2000 to September 2002, Xining Zoo successively had 5 cases of actinomycosis in sika deer and 2 cases in red deer. After treatment, except for one case that died, the remaining 6 animals all recovered. The incidence and diagnosis and treatment situation are reported as follows.
1 Incidence situation In early July 2000, 5 adult sika deer (3 males, 2 females) and 2 red deer (both males) at Xining Zoo successively developed actinomycosis. In the early stage of the disease, egg-sized lumps appeared on the lower jaw and left and right cheeks, and palpation was painful. Within a short time the lumps enlarged and became small, firm hard masses, at which point palpation was painless. The affected deer had difficulty in breathing, swallowing and chewing, and gradually lost weight. In one case the lump ulcerated and suppurated, discharging yellow-white pus, and extended to the cheek to form a fistula. Multiple treatments were ineffective and the animal died.
2 Diagnosis A small amount of pus was scraped from the ulcerated area of the affected deer's lump, washed with water, and the pinhead-sized sulfur-like granules within were found. These were placed on a glass slide, 1 drop of 15% potassium hydroxide solution was added, and the slide was pressed and examined under a microscope after Gram staining. The bacterial bodies were found to have purple centers with radiating red mycelium around them. Combined with the clinical symptoms, the diagnosis was confirmed as actinomycosis.
3 Treatment The affected deer was anesthetized with Miannaining, the lump was incised, and it was successively cleaned with 3% hydrogen peroxide, 5% iodine tincture and physiological saline containing 1.6 million units of penicillin, then filled with edible iodized salt, and 4.8 million units of penicillin were injected intramuscularly. After one week, the procedure was performed once more. Except for 1 case in which a fistula formed and the suppurative focus expanded and the animal died, the remaining 6 cases all recovered completely.
4 Observations
4.1 Actinomyces exists in contaminated soil, feed and drinking water, and parasitizes the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract of animals. When the mucosa and skin are damaged, infection can occur and specific bacterial lumps form.
4.2 The occurrence of this disease is directly related to damage to the oral mucosa and skin. When animals change teeth or eat prickly feed such as grass stems, wheat straw and barley heads, the mucosa is damaged and the disease is triggered. The occurrence of deer actinomycosis in our zoo this time may be related to feeding wheat straw and other feed.
4.3 To prevent the occurrence of this disease, attention should be paid to the hygiene of feed and drinking water, feeding management should be strengthened, and the sanitation and disinfection of pens and sheds should be done well, especially preventing damage to the skin and mucosa. Timely handling and treatment of wounds is of great significance in the prevention of this disease.
4.4 Actinomyces bovis is relatively sensitive to penicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline and lincomycin, so rational use of antibiotics can improve the cure rate of this disease.