CHAPTER XI 



UDDER-ACTINOMYCOSIS 



Infectious Organism 



The infectious organism is the actinomyces bovis or ray 

 fungus. 



Characteristics. — The pathogenic actinomyces bovis 

 is a small thin filamentous organism which sometimes shows 

 finger-like branching and which forms round spore-like 

 bodies. In the animal body it forms round radiated col- 

 onies. Round finger-like or club-shaped bodies are 

 arranged on the surface of the structure in a radiating 

 manner and appear at the edge as a marginal zone. The 

 filaments are difficult to stain, but may be stained by Gram's 

 method. This fungus is exceptionally difficult to cultivate. 



OccunRENCE. — The actinomyces fungus appears to be 

 of uniform geographical distribution. 



In Sweden it is quite generally distributed, but appears 

 to be present more especially in certain known districts, 

 however. 



It appears to be found on straw and bearded grains, 

 since the infection is often carried by these foreign bodies. 



Morphology. — The actinomyces fungus occurs in two 

 forms, filamentous and spherical. 



The appearance of the filaments varies. They may form 

 single fine rods which closely resemble the tubercle bacillus, 

 and may also be mistaken for tubercle bacilli. As a rule, 

 however, they are somewhat thicker, show finger-like 

 branching, and the branches often show swollen club-shaped 

 ends. 



The spherical form or spore-like bodies (perhaps real 

 spores) are somewhat uniformly round and fairly large, 

 approximately the same size as the staphylococcus. 



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