Actinomycosis is an infection caused by a bacterium of the genus Actinomyces, usually Actinomyces bovis; the disease it causes has several common names. When it is a moveable tumour or lump on the jaw area, it is referred to as lump jaw; when it spreads into the hard bone of the jaw, it is referred to as big jaw; and when it affects the tongue, it is referred to as wooden tongue.[1]
bovine actinomycosis, 3-year-old bull, 2-month evolutionbony swelling of the right maxillaethick matter (top) and old fistulous granulomas
Actinomycosis is a common condition in weaned calves, young bulls, and heifers. The disease has a chronic course, and the general body condition can remain quite good. Swelling in the area of the maxilla and mandible occurs. Fistulization occurs after some days, leaving a thick, yellowish, nonodorous pus, with mineralised, 2-to-5 mm (0.079-to-0.197 in) grains therein. Later, a granuloma forms in the place of fistulization. The bony lesions (osteomyelitis, periostitis) cause permanent deformation.
Actinomyces can rarely cause lesions in the intestinal tract, lungs, and liver. The diagnosis of the actinomycotic lesions in internal organs is usually diagnosed post mortem.[1]
Cause and route of infectionsedit
Actinomycosis can be contracted via simple injuries and wounds.[1] The bacteria are common soil and commensal organisms in humans and animals.
Controledit
To control the spread of the disease, affected animals should be isolated or sent for slaughter. The herd should be rotated to a new grazing area to reduce the chances of further infection.[2]
Treatmentedit
The affected areas can be treated with iodine solutions. A common method to achieve this is to give the cattle sodium iodide orally on a regular treatment schedule. Antibiotics such as tetracyclines are also used, alone or with iodine; simultaneous use is considered more aggressive. Killing the bacteria that cause the infection is the ultimate purpose of these treatment methods. However, treatment may not be effective unless it is started early.[3][4] Notably, surgery is not typically considered for treatment of production cattle.[5]
Preventionedit
Prevention of infection is not possible, as Actinomyces is a widespread and common soil organism; complete elimination from soil is not possible.[1]
Differential diagnosisedit
Differential diagnoses include abscesses caused by grass seeds, woody tongue, bottle jaw, cancerous growths, and irritation caused by lodged objects.[3]
Other species affectededit
Although actinomycosis is more common in cattle, it can also be found in horses, sheep, swine, dogs, deer, and humans.[1] In humans, the infection is usually caused by A. israelii.[5]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Actinomyces bovis.
^ abcdeConnaway, J. W.; Uren, A. W. "Actinomycosis (Lump Jaw, Big Jaw and Wooden Tongue) in Cattle". University of Missouri College of Agriculture Agricultural Experiment Station (357). hdl:10355/54507. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^"Lumpy jaw and wooden tongue in cattle". www.dpi.nsw.gov.au. 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
actinomycosis, animals, actinomycosis, infection, caused, bacterium, genus, actinomyces, usually, actinomyces, bovis, disease, causes, several, common, names, when, moveable, tumour, lump, area, referred, lump, when, spreads, into, hard, bone, referred, when, . Actinomycosis is an infection caused by a bacterium of the genus Actinomyces usually Actinomyces bovis the disease it causes has several common names When it is a moveable tumour or lump on the jaw area it is referred to as lump jaw when it spreads into the hard bone of the jaw it is referred to as big jaw and when it affects the tongue it is referred to as wooden tongue 1 bovine actinomycosis 3 year old bull 2 month evolutionbony swelling of the right maxillaethick matter top and old fistulous granulomas Contents 1 Actinomycosis in cattle 2 Cause and route of infections 3 Control 4 Treatment 5 Prevention 6 Differential diagnosis 7 Other species affected 8 ReferencesActinomycosis in cattle editActinomycosis is a common condition in weaned calves young bulls and heifers The disease has a chronic course and the general body condition can remain quite good Swelling in the area of the maxilla and mandible occurs Fistulization occurs after some days leaving a thick yellowish nonodorous pus with mineralised 2 to 5 mm 0 079 to 0 197 in grains therein Later a granuloma forms in the place of fistulization The bony lesions osteomyelitis periostitis cause permanent deformation Actinomyces can rarely cause lesions in the intestinal tract lungs and liver The diagnosis of the actinomycotic lesions in internal organs is usually diagnosed post mortem 1 Cause and route of infections editActinomycosis can be contracted via simple injuries and wounds 1 The bacteria are common soil and commensal organisms in humans and animals Control editTo control the spread of the disease affected animals should be isolated or sent for slaughter The herd should be rotated to a new grazing area to reduce the chances of further infection 2 Treatment editThe affected areas can be treated with iodine solutions A common method to achieve this is to give the cattle sodium iodide orally on a regular treatment schedule Antibiotics such as tetracyclines are also used alone or with iodine simultaneous use is considered more aggressive Killing the bacteria that cause the infection is the ultimate purpose of these treatment methods However treatment may not be effective unless it is started early 3 4 Notably surgery is not typically considered for treatment of production cattle 5 Prevention editPrevention of infection is not possible as Actinomyces is a widespread and common soil organism complete elimination from soil is not possible 1 Differential diagnosis editDifferential diagnoses include abscesses caused by grass seeds woody tongue bottle jaw cancerous growths and irritation caused by lodged objects 3 Other species affected editAlthough actinomycosis is more common in cattle it can also be found in horses sheep swine dogs deer and humans 1 In humans the infection is usually caused by A israelii 5 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Actinomyces bovis a b c d e Connaway J W Uren A W Actinomycosis Lump Jaw Big Jaw and Wooden Tongue in Cattle University of Missouri College of Agriculture Agricultural Experiment Station 357 hdl 10355 54507 Retrieved 8 April 2019 Lumpy jaw and wooden tongue in cattle www dpi nsw gov au 2017 Retrieved 2019 04 01 a b Roche M 2015 Lumpy jaw Smith G W 2013 Overview of Actinomycosis The Merck Veterinary Manual a b Okulicz J F 2016 Actinomycosis Treatment amp Management Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Actinomycosis in animals amp oldid 1106263794, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
